Lady Corsairs Sweep Oxnard and Make Noise
What a difference a couple games can make. When we last saw the Lady Corsairs, they weren't exactly sure what their identity was or even what type of volleyball they needed to play to be a team.
All those questions were answered against the Oxnard Condors. The Corsairs beat the Condors in straight sets 25-10, 25-19, 25-18, bringing them 2-7 for the season with still more volleyball to be played.
The Lady Corsairs were scrappy on defense and fluid on offense. The team ran around the court, diving for every loose ball as if it was the last play of the game. The sets were right on point for the hitters to do their damage. More importantly they played as a team.
"It's starting to click; they're starting to get it," said Coach Nicole Ryan. "We talk about defense as an attitude; It's not just a skill that you have, when you find yourself on the court. You want to be going for balls, you want to have the attitude that 'I can get every ball'."
The first set started out great for the Corsairs. The Lady Corsairs went on to an 18-4 run building a comfortable 20-6 lead. The Corsairs had some great kills by outside hitters Kashelle Wilkerson, Nicole Sahabian, and opposite setter Kristine Gonzales.
The Corsairs grabbed complete control of the match without letting it go. This was a showcase for how much they have improved.
The set stayed about even until the end, but the Corsairs had such a big lead, Oxnard had no chance. The closing score was 25-10. The set lasted all of 15 minutes. The Lady Corsairs were ready to make this a short one.
The second set looked more competitive. The Condors must have been drinking some of that Corsairs Gatorade. They came out of the gates fast nabbing a nice 9-5 lead.
After a Corsairs timeout, the team rallied back to tie the set at 14-14. The Corsairs put the clamps down, taking over the lead and never giving it back.
The third set was much of the same, as the Corsairs kept their foot down, didn't let up on Oxnard. The final set was 25-18.
The ending to this story is a vast improvement for the Lady Corsairs. Good defense will now be what they are known for.
The team looked like they were having fun playing the game. That's what sports is all about, having fun. The Corsairs might not have a big target on their back now, but it could get bigger if they keep this type of play up.
If you have a good defense you can always rely on the defensive mentality to get you through the grind. The Corsairs are going to be a dangerous team down the line. They have a lot to improve on, but they're headed in the right direction.