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Volleyball drops last two matches
By Eric Townsend
Photo by Ed Adams
aztecpress@pima.edu
After pulling off back-to-back road wins, the Pima Community College volleyball team hoped to finish its season strong, but instead came up empty handed after a pair of tough losses.
Pima (8-23, 3-15 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) did not qualify for the playoffs. The team had a 12-match losing streak to start the season and a seven-match losing streak in October, but the young team will be filled with veterans next year.
“This group lacks experience,” head coach Dan Bithell said. “In this conference, for us, it’s not about talent, it’s how we handle ourselves.”
Entering their match against Arizona Western College on Oct. 27, the Aztecs were coming off a two-game winning streak.
The visiting Matadors made quick work of the Aztecs, sweeping them in three straight matches. AWC won 25-21 in the first two sets, then cruised in the final set by a score of 25-14.
Heather Paddock
Freshman outside hitter Angie Banks led the Aztecs with 12 kills in the match. Freshman setter Czarina Schutt led the team with 27 assists.
“Overall, I was pleased with our match against Arizona Western,” Bithell said. “They’re just a good team that went on to win their region.”
The Aztecs went north to play Mesa Community College on Oct. 30, in what would be the final match of the season. Coming into the match, Mesa was last in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.
Pima opened play by winning the first two sets 25-17 and 25-16. Needing to win just one more set, the Aztecs failed to capitalize.
“Hope is a powerful thing,” Bithell said. “In this tough conference, if you give a team hope, they’ll run with it.”
Pima dropped the next two sets 27-29 and 24-26, then lost the final set 10-15.
“As the season progressed, we got better,” Bithell said. “I was really pleased the last couple weeks of the season.”
Sophomore Krista Kallish was named to the All-ACCAC Team with an honorable mention nod.
The outside hitter led the team in kills with just over three per game and was second amongst the Aztecs in digs per game with an average of just over two per game.
“It’s gonna be a long road,” Bithell said. “But I think we have some good pieces coming back next year.”
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Volleyball falls short of playoffs
By Eric Townsend
Photo by Ed Adams
aztecpress@pima.edu
The Pima Community College volleyball team lost seven straight to end its playoff chances, but responded with a perfect road trip.
On Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, the Aztecs (8-21, 3-13 Arizona Community College Athletic Association) earned their first consecutive three-game sweeps.
“After we realized our playoff hopes were eliminated, it can be difficult to finish out the season strong,” head coach Dan Bithell said. “But I felt we were on the same page, staying with each other, and working for each other and staying with the team.”
Amanda Daly and Shannon McCullough
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 20, the Aztecs suffered a seven match losing streak. Pima started the year by losing 12 straight.
“For our freshmen, it’s an experience to understand how difficult it is to win in this conference” Bithell said. “Also to understand the things you need to do to put yourself in a position to win and to get better at the end of the season.”
Pima traveled north on Oct. 22 to face South Mountain Community College. The Aztecs came away victorious, winning in three sets, 25-17, 25-20 and 25-23.
Outsider hitters freshman Angie Banks and sophomore Ashley Hamilton led the Aztecs with 10 kills each. Freshman setter Czarina Schutt had 25 assists and sophomore Jessica Manley played well defensively, contributing 11 digs to the effort.
The next night, Pima played at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. The Aztecs won again in three sets, 25-20, 25-11, 25-18. Sophomore outside hitter Krista Kallish led the offensive attack for the Aztecs with 11 kills. Schutt again played well, adding 30 assists, and Banks played well defensively, leading all Aztecs with 12 digs.
“Last weekend, I felt was a good opportunity for us to be together on a long trip and be able to put together some good things,” Bithell said.
As the season wound down, PCC was just playing for pride. Pima hosted Arizona Western College on Oct. 27 in their last home match. The results were unavailable at press time.
Their last game will be on Friday, Oct. 29, when they travel to Mesa Community College.
“I’m excited about our last week” Bithell said. “We have a chance to win two more.”
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ONLINE EXTRA: Volleyball clings to diminishing playoff hopes
Editor’s note: on Oct. 13, the Aztecs lost 3-1 to No. 17 Glendale
By Ricky Gonzales
Photo and Video by James Kelley
The Pima Community College volleyball team suffered its fourth straight loss on Oct. 8 to Yavapai College in conference play.
The Roughriders took the match in three games, 19-25, 14-25 and 15-25.
“We weren’t focused on any of our first contacts,” coach Dan Bithell said. “We’re going to have to do a much better job if we want to make the playoffs.”
PCC is in the back of the conference, desperately needing wins
“We’re in sixth place out of seven teams,” Bithell said. “We need to finish at least fourth to make it into the playoffs.”
Pima is two matches behind Phoenix College and South Mountain Community College, which are tied for fourth.
Freshman outside hitter Angie Banks led the PCC attack Oct. 8 with nine kills. Freshman setter Czarina Schutt had 28 assists.
Phoenix College beat PCC in five on Oct. 6.
Angie Banks
Sophomore outside hitter Krista Kallish led the way on offense with 13 total kills. She was named conference player of the week for her performance.
“I’m excited about it,” Kallish said. “But I feel like I’m still not playing to my potential.”
Schutt had 27 assists. Freshman middle Shannon McCullough made three total blocks.
The Aztecs also dropped another five-game match to Southwestern College on Oct. 4, 15-25, 25-21, 17-25, 26-24 and 10-15.
Freshman setter Sandy Casillas finished with 30 assists. Kallish had a team-high 13 kills.
Three nights before, the Aztecs could not fight off Scottsdale Community College, losing the match in four games, 20-25, 25-20, 24-26 and 19-25.
Defensively, three players came up with 15 or more digs. Hamilton showed strength at the net with three blocks.
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Volleyball racks up wins
Editor’s note: the Aztecs beat Mesa Community College 3-0 on Sept. 29
By Ricky Gonzales
Photo by Ed Adams
After going almost three weeks without winning a match, the Pima Community College volleyball team won five matches over two days to get on track.
The Aztecs (5-14, 1-7 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) finally found the win column and then finished third in the San Diego City College Tournament on Sept. 25.
The tournament featured many of California’s junior college teams and several from Arizona.
The Aztecs went 4-1 during the one-day tournament, winning their pool. The first round was best of three games instead of the customary best of five, and the knockout round was a one-game winner-take-the-match.
“We really had to get the right mindset going,” head coach Dan Bithell said. “We had to get better each time we touched the ball. Our play elevated throughout the day.”
The Aztecs opened the day by defeating Southwestern College in two games, 26-24, 25-18. They then went three games deep with Rio Hondo College, 20-25, 25-19, 15-8 and Reedley College, 25-18, 23-25, 15-7.
The Aztecs defeated College of the Desert 25-20 in their first playoff match, but had their day end in a semifinal round loss to host San Diego, 20-25. The playoff rounds were formatted to a one-game match to 25.
“There was some pretty good competition,” Bithell said. “We had to play well to win. Some other Arizona teams had good showings as well.”
The Aztecs got their first win of the 2010 season against South Mountain Community College on Sept. 22, taking the match to five games, 3-2. The win snapped their season-opening 13-match losing streak.
Sophomore outside hitter Krista Kallish led the offense by smacking a team-high 20 kills and four aces. Sophomore middle Ashley Hamilton had four aces to go along with her 11 kills.
Freshman setter Czarina Schutt helped set up the Aztec attack as she totaled 54 assists and 14 digs in the conference win.
Sophomore libero Jessica Manley put forth great defensive effort as she led the way with 24 digs and chipped in offensively with four service aces.
“We have good momentum going forward,” Hamilton said. “It was good to come off with a few wins in San Diego.”
Ashley Hamilton
In the previous match on Sept. 17, the Aztecs fell 3-0 to No. 17 Glendale Community College, 22-25, 15-25 and 22-25. On the outside, Kallish was the Aztecs’ offensive leader as she put up a team-high nine kills in the loss. Hamilton showed up at the net as well, leading the PCC squad with three blocks.
“Every game we just have to get better,” Hamilton said. “We’re keeping a positive outlook moving forward.”
On Sept. 8, the PCC volleyball team lost to Chandler-Gilbert Community College, 3-0. Hamilton led the Aztec attack as she had 11 kills in the loss. Manley did her part defensively as she totaled 13 digs and three service aces. Schutt had her best performance of the early season as she had 25 assists on the night.
Overall the Aztecs are 5-14, 1-7 in conference play, and believe the newfound momentum will carry them through a stretch where six of their seven matches will be at home.
“I sure hope so,” Bithell said.
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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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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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