The Bear Cubs volleyball team is back on track after an impressive showing the past week, winning three of four games Oct. 22, 24 and 25.
Opening the season 7-3, the Bear Cubs faltered a bit, and lost four consecutive conference games. Following the rough patch, they looked to bounce back in preparation for the upcoming home stand.
The Bear Cubs started the week with a win against Modesto College Oct. 22. Head coach Kaitlin Ferguson sees Modesto as a force that could help propel the Bear Cubs forward for the rest of the year.
“I was really happy with our win,” Ferguson said. “It was a really big win for us, especially because we were mentally tough, and skill-wise. “
In one of the four sets played against Modesto, the Bear Cubs recovered from deficits of 11-17 and 20-24, winning the set 28-26.
“That was really huge for our confidence, and our ability to push through,” Ferguson said.
In the first game of the weekend, the Bear Cubs faced Sacramento City College Oct. 24, another tough conference opponent.
The Bear Cubs were unfazed by their competition, taking command of the first game with relative ease. They took the first set, 25-18, then lost the second set 27-25. From the beginning of the third set, the Bear Cubs were in complete control.
They took the third set by a resounding 25-11 score, coasting to their third consecutive win of the match defeating SCC in the fourth set 25-20.
On Oct. 25, the Bear Cubs competed in a doubleheader. In the first game, SRJC faced conference rival Butte College.
Prior to Saturday, the Bear Cubs dominated their past three matches against Butte. None of the matches went beyond four sets, and the team was feeling confident. They opened the match with a 25-13 set win but lost the second set 16-25.
The back and forth action continued, as SRJC and Butte split the third and fourth sets of the match. For the first time in their five past meetings, the Bear Cubs faced a definitive fifth set.
The fifth set was a grind. The two teams traded points the whole set, bringing the game to a 14-14 tie. Bearing down, SRJC took the next two points, and their fourth consecutive match against Butte.
“I’m just seeing a lot more volleyball IQ things happening within each rally. It’s not necessarily who’s getting the big kill, it’s knowing the communication that needs to happen, and the various skills that they need to get done,” Ferguson said. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Bear Cubs faltered and Feather River College defeated SRJC in three sets.
Despite the loss dampening the strong play from the previous days, the Bear Cubs are now in position to make a playoff run.
Five games remain, with only two on the road. Ferguson and the Bear Cubs are looking forward to the home stand to conclude their season
“Its really great to be home, and have the energy of the home court. It’s a different feel being at home,” Ferguson said.
The next game is at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29 against Delta College in SRJC’s Haehl Pavilion.