Lancers prepared for conference play

After a morale boosting home opener, the Lancers volleyball team headed into the Los Angeles Pierce Invitational with confidence.

With significant improvements and contributions from their freshmen class, the young team entered the tournament believing they can play with any of the top teams.

“We’re an up-and-coming squad and we proved we can play with the elite teams,” said freshmen middle blocker Kendra Logan. “We have great players to look up to and it’s just a matter of us believing in ourselves.”

In their first game of the tournament, the Lancers took on another top ranked team in No. 3 Golden West College and nearly pulled off an upset.

After fighting back to force another five game thriller, the No. 3 Renegades outlasted the young Lancers in five games (25-18, 15-25, 8-25, 25-23, 11-15).

The sophomore tandem of Nora To’omalatai and Thula Parks proved to be leaders once again after the ladies helped the Lancers squad battle back in another tough match.

To’omalatai led the Lancers with 19 kills, 6 digs and three service aces, while Parks added 10 kills against Golden West. Although the Lancers didn’t get the victory, the team walked away knowing they can compete with the top teams in the state.

“Of course we would have loved to win,” Logan added. “But we learned if we don’t get down on ourselves and keep motivating one another we can be right up there with the best in the state.”

In their second match of the Los Angeles Invitational, the Lancers faced another top program in state No. 11 Bakersfield College. With their defense playing up to its potential, the Lacers upset the Renegades in straight games 25-18, 25-21 and 25-21.

It was a team effort that helped propel the Lancers in the upset against the Renegades. Nora To’omalatai recorded 18 kills and four digs, while sophomore setter Tiffany Roesler contributed with 35 assists.

Roesler ranks twelfth in the state in assists per set (9.52), while To’omalatai ranks fourth in the state in kills per set (4.49).

“We played well against Bakersfield, but we really need to work on our communication,” said freshmen libero Saige Spence. “We just have to stay confident in ourselves, stay consistent at practice and keep focusing on the task at hand.”

In the Bakersfield win, it was another team contribution from the freshmen trio of Kendra Logan, Saige Spence and Angelea Banuelos, which helped the Lancers defeat the Renegades.

“We learned to never give up and to maintain a high level of energy in the LA Invitational,” said middle blocker Angela Banuelos. “We know we can compete with the top teams if we work hard and speak up on defense.”

With conference play beginning this Friday, the Lancers were grateful for the opportunity to play against some of the top teams in the state and said they will use the losses as building opportunities.

“Playing against some of the top teams in the state has helped us tremendously because we’ve seen a lot of different strategies and techniques,” Banuelos added. “We’ve played some pretty tough competition and I think it has really benefited us. We’re working hard in practice and improving every day. We just have to keep up our defensive intensity.”

Against LA Pierce College it was the lack of defensive energy and communication that hurt the young Lancer team. Playing two games in one day didn’t play to the Lancers’ favor.

“We didn’t execute like we wanted to on defense,” Logan added.” I think we played tough against the top teams, but we learned we can’t underestimate anyone.”

Although the Lancers lost in straight games (18-25, 19-25, 18-25), the freshmen remain confident in the growth and capabilities.

“We can definitely perform a lot better,” said Spence. “We just have to stay focused and stay motivated. We can’t let anything affect us.”