Volleyball: D+

Despite notching her first victory in three seasons at Contra Costa College, coach Azure'D Nunley's team has underperformed up to this point in the 2008 season.


With 10 players to begin the season, the largest roster Nunley has had in her tenure at CCC, the Comets currently have a disappointing 1-6 overall record and a 1-4 mark in the Bay Valley Conference.


All six of the team's losses have come in straight sets.


CCC's newcomers have not performed as well as Nunley hoped, as they continue to have troubles developing chemistry with returners Lisa Lee, Syble Maxey-Hooks, Christine Gillette and Allison Nava.


On several occasions this season, the sophomore Comets have cited communication problems with the freshmen on the court, leading to unforced errors that put the Comets in early holes in each set.


Lee, Maxey-Hooks and Nava have all said that the freshmen have played intimidated and hesitant, which has hindered the team's performance in several games this year.


"A lot of the girls are playing like they're afraid to make mistakes," Nava said. "When that happens, we can't communicate and it separates the team into two different squads between the freshmen and the sophomores."


Unforced errors continue to plague the Comets, as well as poor serving.


CCC has been inconsistent with its serve all season, as players continue to give points away to opponents by serving balls out of bounds.


Setting the ball has also been a problem for CCC as well. Players continue to have trouble setting the ball up for hitters like Lee and Maxey-Hooks.


Even after the team's lone victory against College of Alameda, players were still skeptical of the team's ability to win more games in the season.


"I still think we could've played better that game," Lee said. "It was just a bittersweet win."


If CCC continues to have problems with its chemistry and its play on the court, finding another win on the schedule could prove to be a difficult task for Nunley and her squad.


—Jeff Carillo