After a grueling season filled with hard work and long hours, the Lady Raiders finished their season in a tie for third place with Cuesta College. Both teams ended the conference season with a 7-5 record, Moorpark with a 12-9 overall and Cuesta with a 14-9.

“Some of the teams we played were really tough, we worked really hard and held our own most of the time, but next season will be totally different,” freshman setter Ashley Becker said.

Both captains played their final season this year and played a very important role on the team. Taylor Susim lead the conference in kills per set, placed fourth in total number of kills and always made sure her team was performing at their best. Cierra Merz took her role as captain serioulsy and kept her team in line and understood what it took to be in the role of captain.

“Cierra and Taylor are just awesome. They do everything they need to do and more whenever I ask and there are no two better examples of leaders on this team,” Head Coach Steve Burkhart said.

In comparison to the last few seasons, the team did not do as well overall as expected. They had high hopes and were determined to surpass their season last year, but fell just short.

“We worked really hard and did the best we could,” Burkhart said. “We have a lot of young players and it just makes me more excited for next season.”

With six sophomores ending their Moorpark careers this season, the remaining eleven freshman will take it upon themselves to step up this next season and lead the team. With so may returning, the girls and coaches feel confident they will do even better than this season and will have many more opportunities to shine.

“I know we will be even better next season,” Becker said. “We’ve worked so hard this season and there is no where for us to go but up from here. We are going to go way up.”