5 minute read
Host Brahmas claim tournament victory
Kat Mabry/ Roundup
Pierce College women’s volleyball beat out Pasadena City College in the finals at the First Annual Pierce College Brahma Invitational in the North and South Gyms this weekend.
Women’s Volleyball hosted eight teams, providing sports drinks, snacks and an announcer who played enthusiastic music during time outs and in between plays.
Pierce met the Pasadena City College Lancers fired up to win. The Lancers brought with them an impressive 23-2 record from the previous 2009 season.
There was excitement in the air of the gym as each team lined up to introduce its players.
Pasadena’s head coach, Tammy Silva, beginning her 4th season with the Lancers, was ready to “bring it.”
Pierce found challenges early on in game one as Lancer player, Aliyyah Abdullah, middle back and outside hitter successfully killed into open spaces of the court on Pierce’s side.
The game was close throughout with only one and two points separating the scores.
Brahmas won game one 22–19.
“Push Hard,” Brahmas screamed as they raised their hands in the air to rally onto game two.
For the first time in the tournament, Pierce was down in game two as play started off 3-4.
With clumsy hands and a back and forth battle to win, Pasadena broke away and won game two 25-21. Pasadena was all smiles as they were the first team to beat Pierce in this tournament.
In game three Pierce was off to a great start leading 9–5, this didn’t last long as the Lancers brought it back to a head to head game tying it up.
Tied at 26 Nabil Mardini, Pierce’s head coach for his 12th season, called a timeout.
The Contour’s song “Do you love me (Now that I can dance)” played over the loud speakers of the gym to fire up the teams.
Pasadena City College took the win 27–29 at the end of game three.
A fourth game began with Pasadena City set up to take first place in the tournament, with a 2-1 game lead.
Cheer’s from the Brahma’s bench “gravy train” were belted out by players in support of every point that was put up on the score board.
Pierce made a come back as Samatha Potter, Brahma outside hitter, towering at 5’11” made an impressive kill over to the Lancer’s side, it was clear that Pierce was heading to a fifth game after all.
Pierce won game four 24–16. Pasadena, psyched out now, watched as the Brahmas made it look like they were about to take the tournament by the horns.
At match point, all were anxious as the score board read 14–11 in favor of Pierce.
15–11, Pierce won first place and coach Mardini literally jumped from his chair on the side lines and pointed to the court, spinning his arm into a 180 degree circular victory move.
“We’ve been practicing really hard,” Mardini said with a smile.
“Pasadena’s a great team and they came and brought it.”
Pierce and Pasadena have been playing each other going on eight years according to head coach Tammy Silva.
“Both teams made crucial errors at important times in the game, but its a good way to end going into conference this week,” Silva said. “Nabil always brings a competitive game.”
As the team stretches after their win, Mardini and Silva exchanged a hug and she thanked her long time colleage for the great time they had at the tournament.
“Compared to how we were at the beginning of the year, we’ve improved a lot,” said Samantha Potter, a sophomore at Pierce. “I feel like now our team is more connected, [we have] good chemistry.”
Mardini refers to games like the one against Pasadena as “grind out wins.”
“They [Pasadena] made a couple of errors in the fourth game and it helped us in the end,” Mardini said.
Pasadena City College left the gym as Pierce stuck around to clean up plastic bottles and empty nacho plates.
“We might see them [Pasadena City College] in nationals,” Brahma Kathleen Wright, who had 19 digs in the game said with confidence. “If they win . . . ”
Saturday’s first game against the Golden West College Rustlers determined which team played in the finals.
Pierce won the first game of the match, and early on set a precedent of high competition.
The Brahmas led 13-3 early in the second game accompanied by loud cheers of encouragement and support from nearly 70 fans in the bleachers sprinkled with crimson t-shirts displaying the Brahmas colors.
Pierce dominated the second game against Golden West. The Rustlers were finding it difficult to keep pace with the kills the Brahma’s served up. Pierce won 25-13 and sealed their victory in game three with a 25-15 win.
Friday’s match was against Palomar College Comets who were the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Champions of their season in 2009.
The games are played best three of five and no more than three were needed. The Brahmas took down the Comets 3-0.
The match against Palomar included a second game with an impressive 25–8 victory, showing Pierce meant business. Pierce won 3-0, moving on to Saturday undefeated.
This season is looking like the opposite of last years difficult challenges the Brahmas faced. In 2009 the Brahmas were plagued with five injuries, with all but one lasting throughout the entire season. One of the five injured was Sarah Martin who contributed 27 kills to the match against Pasadena.
“Last season was unfortunate, we didn’t have the strength and conditioning coach,” Mardini said. “Its [2010] got the makings of a great season, we’re off to a great start.”
Pierce traveled to Oxnard College Tuesday to take on the Condors.
