The volleyball team swept the Modesto Junior College Pirates 3-0 in a conference match on Oct. 23 following a tough 3-2 loss earlier in conference play.
The Hawks came out strong, capturing momentum in the form of a 25-17 first set win, which is vital for success, said head coach Kari Nahlen.
“We’ve been really struggling the first half of the season coming out and getting the first set,” Nahlen said. “We’ve definitely worked on it in practice, how we need to get momentum first.”
Scrappiness, the term the Hawks want to be known for. Taking pride in that mentality is something the Hawks have been able to adopt, said sophomore middle blocker Abigail Siever.
“My team is super, super scrappy,” Siever said. “That is something we pride ourselves on, not giving up on a ball. Not quitting. We want to go get it.”
Sophomore setter Nicole Risch racked up 14 assists in the sweep. Vision and teamwork is massive as a setter, Risch said.
“I think it’s important as a setter to see the other side a little bit more,” Risch said. “I think communication was a big part, especially for this game. I feel like I communicate really well with my hitters.”
Although jumping out to a 2-0 set lead, Modesto went up early in the third set 9-2 before the Hawks took a timeout. The timeout established a drive for the Hawks to finish the set on a 23-11 run, Siever said.
“We just established that we want this game more, and we’re gonna do anything we can to get it,” Siever said. “We’re gonna start playing harder. We know we can beat this team.”
The Hawks dropped a matchup earlier in conference play to the Pirates 3-2, however, Cosumnes River College isn’t the same team anymore, said Nahlen.
“I think our team is just mentally different,” Nahlen said. “That match we played last time, we weren’t finishing matches, we weren’t finishing games, and we are a team that finishes sets, and finishes matches.”
The win over Modesto boosted the Hawks to .500 in conference play at 5-5, before dropping a match to Sierra on Oct. 25. Maintaining scrappiness and two straight sweeps prior to the Sierra match will carry into the rest of the season, Risch said.
“These last two wins for us were really big,” Risch said. “Not only did we win, but we swept them.”
The team faced #4 American River College at home on Oct. 30, losing 2-3 before defeating Diablo Valley College 3-1 on Friday.
The Hawks now sit at 14-10 overall and 6-7 in conference. They travel to Folsom Lake College next to face off against the Falcons on Wednesday.