 |
Photo by Ryan Kennedy Contributing Photographer |
Sophomore Dominique Altamirano tries to block an attempted kill during the T-bird’s loss to Eastern Arizona. |
MCC volleyball might be peaking at the right time. The Thunderbirds have won three straight games to improve their record to 21-9, with four games remaining on the regular season schedule. MCC beat Pima Community College Oct. 15, and Yavapai Community College Oct. 13.
MCC traveled to Tucson to battle Pima. PCC was overwhelmed by the Thunderbird attack led by sophomore co-captain Hayden Johnson’s 22 digs and freshman Irene Bahe’s 15 kills. Bahe attributes each win to the hard work they put in at practice.
“We push each other every practice working hard for everything we have,” Bahe said. “We take each game one at a time — we can only lose to ourselves.”
MCC dismantled PCC in three games. In the first game, MCC crushed Pima by 16 points, winning 30-14. MCC did not let up in the second game, beating Pima 30-22. Game three was a mirror image of game two, with the Thunderbirds once again allowed 22 points on their way to victory.
Head Coach Tricia Melfy was pleased with her team’s performance.
“We dominated and controlled the game from the start,” Melfy said.
Melfy also talked about allowing her players to become more balanced in their attack by playing unfamiliar positions against PCC.
“We tried different positions against Pima, more options for the kids,” Melfy said. Irene Bahe, a 6-foot middle blocker, playing in the back row, was one example Melfy gave.
The Thunderbirds played host to Yavapai Community College, Wednesday, Oct. 13. MCC controlled the contest from beginning to end, winning the match in an orderly fashion. Meghan Julander and Irene Bahe each had double digit kills. Julander had 13 and Bahe had 11. MCC outplayed Yavapai from the start and did not let them get into their groove, winning the first game 30-15. Yavapai scored more points in the second game but the end result was 30-24 MCC. The Thunderbirds finished off Yavapai by nine points winning the last game 30-21.
According to Melfy, Yavapai always gives MCC some problems, but her team did deliver the victory.
“Yavapai is always competitive, even if their record doesn’t show it,” Mefly said. “We knew that coming in, and I was hoping we wouldn’t take them lightly, which we didn’t.”
The three game winning streak started at South Mountain Community College, Oct. 8. But before the current winning streak, MCC lost four straight.
Mefly links the team’s winning to their attitude and game control over the last few games.
“All huge wins,” Melfy said. “Winning builds confidence — the attitude and excitement is back.”
|
