Volleyballʼs playoff push Brahmas defeat Pirates in pink shirts

Mardini said. “I think the mindset changed a little bit and we started playing like we do in practice. As soon as we gained composure, we did OK.” to get into the playoffs and we had a change of mindset that helped us come out stronger,” Rice said.

The Pierce College women’s volleyball team continued its playoff push with a comeback victory in five sets against Ventura College at Pierce on Friday, Oct. 31.

The Brahmas won 3-2. After losing the first two sets, (25-23, 2521) the Brahmas were able to rally and win the final three sets. (25-20, 25-18, 15-7)

The Brahmas wore pink shirts in honor of breast cancer awareness, and there was a charity bake sale at the game for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. The team committed four serving errors in the first two sets. However, they were able expel their nerves and play strong volleyball for the next three sets, head coach Nabil Mardini said.

“For some reason, we were nervous and making a lot of errors,”

The Brahmas finished with 21 errors total.

Outside hitter and captain Jessica Martinez said that the team’s play over the last three sets was reminiscent of its 3-0 victory against first-place Santa Barbara City College two days prior.

“We brought back how we did in our Wednesday away-game,” Martinez said. “We felt that we could beat this team by being intense and competitive like we are in practice.“

“We felt that we deserved this game,” Martinez said.

Libero Darrin Rice played a large role in the Brahmas’ defensive efforts with 24 digs.

Rice said that the team knew the importance of this game.

“I think we realized that this was a really important game for us

The head coach of the Ventura College team, Brad Lyons said that Pierce’s errors were key to Ventura’s early success.

“Pierce stopped making errors and we got a little nervous,” Lyons said. “Once [Pierce] started playing the way I know they’re capable of playing, I saw a change in us where we weren’t the aggressors anymore.”

“We’re a small team. We don’t have the height they do,” Lyons said. “Their offense was just too powerful.”

Despite Pierce’s overpowering offense in the later stages of the game, coach Mardini said that the Brahmas were initially stunned by Ventura’s strong play.

“They’re a pretty good team, and they make you play,” Mardini said. “In the past we haven’t done too well against teams that make us play.” the pitch in an alternative way.

Mardini seemed frustrated during the team’s performance in the first two sets, which led to him receiving a yellow card for arguing with the referee over a call in the second set.

His passion for the team’s success helped raise the morale, according to Martinez.

“When it comes to refs making bad calls and our coach seeing those calls, his energy feeds us,” Martinez said.

The Brahmas improved to 13-8 overall after this win, and 5-3 in Western State Conference games.

Mardini said that Pierce will have to continue its good play in order to stay in the playoff hunt.

“We have to continue to control the ball better, keep swinging away, and win out in order to make the playoffs. That’s what I keep telling the girls,” Mardini said.

Next up for the Brahmas is an away game today against Los Angeles Mission College at 6 p.m.

Even though Bailey plays forward, she only practices as a goalkeeper.

“I don’t practice forward. When I play forward, that is just me playing forward,” Bailey said.

In the words of Perez, her contribution to the team as a forward has been shocking.

“She’s like a spark plug,” Perez said.

“She brings a tremendous amount of energy. She is one of the few, if not only players that utilizes her bodies full strength. It’s such a blessing for her to be able to do what she’s doing.”

“She gives us good minutes off the bench. She’s a tough player and brings good energy. When she’s on the field good things happen,” Assistant coach William Diaz said.

The transition from a player who is the epitome of defense to a player that is the epitome of offense should be hard. But not for Bailey.

“It wasn’t hard because I played forward as well in high school. It was an easy move,” Bailey said.

As for which position Bailey enjoys playing more, she says it depends.

“It kind of varies,” Bailey said. “

“If it is an active game where there is a lot of shots being taken on you than I love playing keep. But if it is forward and we have the ball the whole time, playing keep is boring.”

Bailey scored her first goal of the season on Friday, Oct. 17 against Cuesta College.

Bailey said that when she scores a goal it “Brings a lot of joy.”