Mesa Legend - SPORTS - Men’s soccer striving for playoff position

November 15,2005
SPORTS
Women’s basketball a surprise no longer

Andrew Kupitz
Mesa Legend

There is a new tune coming from inside the gym this year. And if you’re wondering who is making this noise, we know exactly who it is. With their clapping and excitement during the first half of their practices, the Lady T-birds are coming out ready to make some noise this year.
After last season’s fifth place finish in the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Division II Tournament, Coach Robin Schamber and the Mesa Community College women’s basketball team is up and running, getting prepared for the 2005 season.
The 2004 team finished the season with a winning record of 22 wins and 14 losses. It was a surprise when they won three of their last four games in the tournament against quality teams. “I expect that in every game that we play this year, we will compete,” Coach Schamber said.
She is building a team with only six returning players from last year’s team and a handful of hardworking freshman.
Central Community College, last year’s Division I national champion, will be one of the tougher competitors MCC will face. Schamber added by saying, “Yavapai College has always been good. In our division, however, South Mountain, Glendale, Scottsdale, and a new-looking Chandler-Gilbert team, should provide some competition.”
The six returning players will help the freshman along during the duration of their first season. “If we could get them all working together, we are going to be a very competitive team,” Schamber said.
Returning players include Jamie Nesbit, Ashton LeSueur, and Irene Bahe. The expectations are high for Bahe, who was on and off last season with an injury, but is expected to bounce back. Freshmen Michelle Haas and Jessica Tsingine will also be expected to make an impact. “Different people are going to be stepping up in different games; it’s going to change as the season progresses,” Schamber commented.
Also returning is guard Kellie Olson, granddaughter of U of A Coach Lute Olson. She expects their wins will be earned by hard work and discipline and mentioned the team goal is to return to the national tournament.
Their first opportunity to work towards that goal will be Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. when they host the Division I championship runner-up, College of Southern Idaho. That is followed by three more home games against Dixie College, Snow College, and Howard College of Texas.