All Entries in the "Volleyball" Category

Volleyball seeking first win

Story by James Kelley
Photo by Gabi Piña

Thanks in no small part to a brutally tough early schedule, the young Pima Community College volleyball team is winless, 0-7, to start the season.

With just three sophomores, the Aztecs are also 0-4 in the hole in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.

“Well obviously it’s frustrating to not have a win at this point,” head coach Dan Bithell said. “But, with the experience level of our team and the scheduling, it’s not a complete surprise or complete shock.”

Pima has played all but of its one match away from home to start the season.

“I think it’s been a rough start but we’re moving forward,” freshman setter freshman Czarina Schutt said.

Not counting a San Diego City College Tournament, nine of the Aztecs’ next 15 matches are at home starting on Sept. 17.

“It’s definitely tough to go on the road,” Bithell said. “Hopefully by the time we start seeing people in our building, we will have created a little bit more of a buzz about what we are doing and get a lot of fans our here to support us and surprise a lot more teams the second time around.”

Schutt agrees that more matches at the friendly confines of Aztec Gymnasium, which is on the West Campus will help, but she also expects the Aztecs to get better regardless.

“I think definitely it will be an advantage but I think either way as the season goes forward we will get better,” Schutt said.

There are some bright spots for the Aztecs though. Schutt is third in the ACCAC in assists with 6.93 per game.

“I think I’m doing good, I could always improve,” she said.

Sophomore libero Jessica Manley is fifth in the league in digs with 3.88 per game. Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Hamilton is eighth in the conference in kills with 2.41 per game.
In addition to being on the road, Pima’s schedule has been filled with ranked teams.

Krista Kallish

On Aug. 27, the Aztecs traveled to No. 4 Scottsdale Community College, where they were swept in three games, 11-25, 13-25 and 13-25. On Sept. 8, Pima faced No. 12 Glendale Community College on the road and was also swept, 19-25, 15-25 and 23-25.

In the Scottsdale Classic Tournament, the Aztecs faced No. 5 Grand Rapids Community College and No. 15 Eastern Arizona College. Grand Rapids swept Pima 15-25, 19-25, 13-25, but the Aztecs were able to push Eastern to four games after a rough first two games, finishing the match 9-25, 17-25, 25-22 and 22-25.

“We are getting better everyday and just like I told the team, it is who finishes well as opposed to who starts well in this conference,” Bithell said. “I still feel good about coming to the gym and working with these guys.”

The Aztecs traveled to Thatcher, Arizona, to face Eastern Arizona again on Sept. 15, where they lost 3-1, (25-22,25-18 and 25-22).

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Freshmen plentiful on volleyball squad

Story and Photo by James Kelley

The Pima Community College volleyball team is paying the price for enjoying extra sophomores last year. This year, the team only has three sophomores.

The Aztecs (0-3, 0-2 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) will rely on lots of freshmen, but head coach Dan Bithell still likes this team.

“We’ve got a lot of new players, we’ve got a pretty young team this year, but I really like our chemistry,” Bithell said.

There are four ranked teams in the ACCAC, No. 13 Eastern Arizona College and No. 24 Yavapai College in division I and No. 7 Scottsdale and No. 11 Glendale Community College in division II. The Aztecs are in division II.

“It’s going to be tough,” Bithell said.

Though the Aztecs only play one home match until the latter half of September, Bithell sees that as a blessing in disguise. Only one team gets to host Regionals, so the Aztecs will likely have to play on the road.

“Obviously it is always great to get a bunch of wins under your belt to start the season but ultimately I think it will help us, make us more mentally tough,” Bithell said.

Ashley Hamilton

Last year, Pima finished two matches out of a playoff spot.

All-American Liz Alford, who transferred to Northern Arizona University and All-ACCAC Kelsee Rupp are the Aztecs’ biggest losses.

Outside hitter Ashley Hamilton is Pima’s top returning player. Last year she averaged .720 blocks per game, 1.50 kills per game .050 assists per game, .350 aces per game and .500 digs per game.

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ONLINE EXTRA: 2010 Volleyball results

Photo by James Kelley

8-23, 3-15 ACCAC

Aug. 27 @ *Scottsdale CC L 3-0
Aug. 28 Southwestern College (Phoenix) L 3-1
SEPT. 1 *PHOENIX COLLEGE L 3-0
Sept. 3 @ *Yavapai College L 3-0
Sept. 8 @ *Glendale CC L 3-0
Sept. 10 Phoenix CollegeScottsdale Classic Tournament (Scottsdale) L 3-0
Sept. 10 Grand Rapids CC Scottsdale Classic Tournament (Scottsdale) L 3-0
Sept. 10 Mesa CC Scottsdale Classic Tournament (Scottsdale) L 3-2
Sept. 11 Chandler-Gilbert CC Scottsdale Classic Tournament (Scottsdale) L 3-1
Sept. 11 Eastern Arizona College Scottsdale Classic Tournament (Scottsdale) L 3-1
Sept. 15 @ *Eastern Arizona College L 3-0
SEPT. 17 *CHANDLER-GILBERT CC L 3-0
SEPT. 22 *SOUTH MOUNTAIN CC W 3-2
Sept. 24 @ *Arizona Western College L 3-0
Sept. 25 Southwestern College SDCC Tournament (San Diego) W 2-0
Sept. 25 Rio Hondo College SDCC Tournament (San Diego) W 2-1
Sept. 25 Reedley College SDCC Tournament (San Diego) W 2-1
Sept. 25 College of the Desert SDCC Tournament (San Diego) W 1-0
Sept. 25 San Diego City College SDCC Tournament (San Diego) L 1-0
SEPT. 29 *MESA CC 7 W 3-0
OCT. 1 *SCOTTSDALE CC L 3-1
OCT. 4 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE L 3-2
Oct. 6 @ *Phoenix College L 3-2
OCT. 8 *YAVAPAI COLLEGE L 3-0
OCT. 13 *GLENDALE CC L 3-1
OCT 15 *EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE L 3-0
Oct 20 @ *Chandler-Gilbert CC L 3-1
Oct 22 @ *South Mountain CC W 3-0
Oct 23 @ Embry Riddle Aeronautical University W 3-0
OCT 27 *ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE L 3-0
Oct 29 @ *Mesa CC L 3-2

Home matches in BOLD
*ACCAC conference match

Ashley Hamilton

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Three athletes named All-Americans

By Daniel Gaona

Three Pima Community College athletes received National Junior College Athletic Association All-American honors as the fall semester comes to a close.

Sophomore women’s soccer player Emily Shuta was named second team All-American. She led the league with 19 goals and was second with 34 points.

The team went 16-3 and won the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference championship.

“We had a good run this year but didn’t get the outcome we expected,” Shuta said. “I wasn’t really expecting an All-American either but when I found out I was happy.”

Freshman men’s soccer player Minh Vu was also named second team All-American. He made an immediate impact and finished with 17 goals and 42 points. Both totals were good for second place in the conference.

Men’s soccer ended the season 15-6-1.

“It feels great to have that honor,” Vu said. “I knew I had a lot to prove when I came to Pima and my coach had high expectations for me. I gave it my best and hopefully next year I do better.”

Sophomore Liz Alford of the volleyball team earned All-American Honorable mention. She led the Aztecs with 304 kills and 58 blocks. She also had the highest kills percentage with 28.04 and kills per set with 3.86. She was second with 215 digs.

The volleyball team barely missed the playoffs and finished 12-15.