The Lady Raiders Volleyball team is working hard to take their Western State Conference season by storm.
After winning four consecutive WSC championships from 2008 to 2011, the Lady Raiders reign ended last season after losing to Santa Barbara City College. As a team, they feel the pressure from within to improve and have a successful season.
After being the only second place team to miss the playoffs last season, both new and returning players are feeling the intensity at practice as coach Steven Burkhart amps up drills and pushes his players to be at their best.
“Coming from summer practices to these practices is a totally different world,” sophomore Mackinzee Claus said.
Each practice, the team takes advantage of the entire gym when they cover everything from conditioning and fundamentals to specific plays and mental toughness. Coach Burkhart works them hard and pushes them toward the ultimate goal of becoming conference champions again.
“We’re trying to do our drills so that we do a lot of serve-receive … and [we are] trying to put pressure on the girls for pressure situations, so they perform and hopefully we can make that work,” Burkhart said.
Players and coaches put in hard work every day and take advantage of the time they have left to prepare for the season ahead. They have set specific objectives and are putting the work that it takes to reach them.
“We hope to be competitive in the league and the women are working hard to achieve their goals for the season,” Burkhart said.
The Lady Raiders have several early season competitions that are not part of the WSC. These games do not affect their position in the conference, but they do contribute to their overall record and standings that will determine their playoff status.
Unfortunately, last Friday the Lady Raiders fell to College of the Canyons in a non-conference match (25-16, 25-21, 25-21). This loss was turned into another motivational starting point for the team.
“We don’t like losing, but we know what we need to do,” setter Ashley Becker said.
Players and coaches both feel they still have work to do before the conference season starts this October. They are taking the negatives from the match and making it the focus of practice, while also reiterating what was done well.
“I’m excited for this season and to see what it has to bring, especially because it’s my first year [playing] and I think we have a good shot at it,” Becker said.
Players and coaches both feel they still have work to do before the conference season starts this October. They are taking what was negative from the match and making it the focus of practice, while also reiterating what was done well.
“I’m excited for this season and to see what it has to bring, especially because it’s my first year [playing] and I think we have a good shot at it,” Becker said.
Though they suffered a loss, the attitude of the team has not been affected in the slightest. There is still one goal in mind and it will stay there until it is accomplished and replaced by an even greater one.
