T-Birds Volleyball Falls to Chandler-Gilbert as MCC loses third straight
By: Warren Younger
The T-birds volleyball team kept it close but lost to Chandler-Gilbert Community College 3 sets to 1 as the fell to 0-3.
MCC started off slow as the lost the first set 25-16 but picked up pace as the game progressed.
Ultimately mistakes were a big factor as they dropped the second set 25-20 before winning the third set in a close
25-23 battle.
After a spirited comeback from six points down, MCC made the 4th set interesting, but lost 25-21.
“I think we weren’t prepared” said
first year head coach Matthew Werle.
“We played according to the scouting report but it wasn’t enough,we were not mentally prepared.”
Werle took over for Brent Martindale who coached the T-Birds for four years before resigning.
When asked what the biggest issue facing the team right now is Werle Mackenzie King had four blocks in the loss.
With the team sitting at a 0-3 record the T-birds volleyball team needs to start winning games if they want to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.
“The history of the volleyball program at Mesa has been slow, we truly are underdogs in our division, this team is trying to turn that around.” Sophmore Tia Ambercrombie said.
Ambercrombie thinks the future is bright for this team.
“I do think things are moving in the right direction, this is a year of transition” Ambercrombie said “Adjusting to the changes that happened so close to the beginning of our season was not easy,not only do we have a new coach and coaching staff but we experienced the
loss of a few players right before our first game.”
The T-birds also seem to be playing more close matches as the season has been progressing; coming closest to victory against Chandler-Gilbert.
“We have been more and more commented by saying that its “lack of confidence”.
“Lack of confidence,thats the biggest problem right now we have to learn how to play as a team.” Werle said, “We have to learn what it feels like to win games.”
Coach Werle is trying to lead the
T-birds to their first winning season since
2005.
They haven’t won the division since
1980. “This program hasnt had the best past and I understood that when I took the
job but right now we need to just gain confidence so we can start winning, Werle said.
The lack of confidence seemed to be a huge factor as mistakes plagued the team all game.
But the team held leads in every set they lost.
Coach Werle responded that lack of
confidence played a critical role.
“Yeah I feel lack of confidence played a big role there as well,we battled with them into the mid 20’s every set but we couldn’t put them away.”
“We need to learn how to finish sets.” Hannah Marang finished the game
with 10 kills and Tia Kannapel finished with two aces.
Chelsey Stover and Taylor Ka’alele
both finished with 11 digs while competitive with each match we compete in. I believe if we continue to work hard we will be fierce competitors by the end of the season.”
The T-birds look to get on track
as they face Pima and Phoenix before competing in the Scottsdale classic on September 11-13
