October 11 , 2005
SPORTSMCC volleyball positions itself for playoff run
With more than half the season behind them, the MCC volleyball team will be looking forward to the last month of the season, as four of its final six games will be played on home territory at the Theo J. Heap Gymnasium.
It will be good to be home for the team, as they spent much of September traveling to conference games in Tucson and Yuma and tournaments in Thatcher and Scottsdale.
In addition, the team will be preparing and positioning itself for a playoff run in the ACCAC/ NJCAA Region I, Division II Tournament, which runs Nov. 3-5.
MCC is currently in the fourth and final spot with a sizable lead over Pima Community College.
There will also be a noted change in coaching staff as assistant athletic director, John Mulhern, will be expected to assume more duties since head coach, Tricia Melfy, has now joined the police academy.
According to Mulhern, the lone assistant coach for the team, this transition has long been expected since the beginning of the season in August.
Outside hitter Michelle Amete, also confirmed the team knew well in advance that Melfy would be making a career change midseason. She also mentioned she’s, “not worried about it at all,” since Melfy will still be attending as many practices and games as possible, despite her busy schedule.
Yet, it was on Sept. 21, during Melfy’s first week at the academy, Mulhern found out 90 minutes before game time that he would be coaching solo that evening against a highly ranked Scottsdale Community College squad.
Mesa came up short, losing three matches to none. However, the team still holds a winning record of 12 wins and nine losses, despite suffering other tough losses to Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Arizona Western Community College, and Eastern Arizona Community College.
As for the long term future of volleyball at MCC, it is unknown how much longer Melfy, also the jumping coach for the track team, will be part of the staff.
Repeated attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.
She is currently not under contract with MCC because members of the police academy are not allowed to be contractually obligated to any other establishment during training.