Squad remains optimistic despite slow start in 2012

This year’s Contra Costa College volleyball team’s production has been reminiscent of the squad coach Zachary Shrieve put together last year — the only difference is the reasons for their struggles.

Through the first 10 games of the 2012 season the Comets have a 2-8 overall record (2-4 in the Bay Valley Conference).

CCC has been on the losing end of the majority of its games, pulling out just two victories against Laney and Mendocino colleges on Sept. 20 and Oct. 5.

So far the Comets have struggled with executing sets and passes preventing them from competing offensively with the top teams in the conference.

Despite their losing ways the team has shown improvement through practice week-by-week.

“We have been working on good passing skills, serves and receiving so that we can get good sets and hits,” Comet outside hitter Elvi Figueroa said.

CCC has been in multiple close games with teams in the BVC, most recently coming up short against Napa Valley College in the Gymnasium Wednesday. However, the squad is optimistic.

“We are starting to see that we are capable of beating the better teams,” Comet freshman Jessica Neville said. “We just have to fight.”

 Because CCC has already played tougher opponents early in the season, the team has an opportunity to prepare better for games against weaker teams in the BVC and get some wins, Figueroa said.

“We played a lot of good teams first, at their home, opposed to the teams coming up that we know we can beat,” Figueroa said.

With 10 games remaining in the schedule, the Comet squad  hopes to finish the year strong and clinch a playoff berth.

Solano Community College currently leads the BVC with a 12-6 overall record, 6-1 in the BVC.

Third-year Comet coach Zachary Shrieve said while the top teams keep winning, the Comets cannot afford to lose another game and must continue to work hard on both sides of the ball.

“We can’t control what our opponents do, we can only control our side of the net. Jessica, Jazmine (Mendoza) and Kelly (Perry) can really hit,” Shrieve said.

Shrieve said that the Comets’ lack of experience and talent has played a significant role in the squad’s sub-.500 conference and overall records.

Under Shrieve, the Comets have not been able to reach the playoffs, gaining only five wins in a three-year span.

Despite the team’s mishaps, several players agreed that they will continue to fight.

 “We may not end up in first place but we want to be up there,” Neville said. “This is my first year in college and I want to be at or near the top (of the BVC) at the end of the season.”

While the Comets have struggled as a team in games, there have been standout individual performances from players such as Neville and Comet setter Effie Danao, who rank among the top of the conference in total kills and assists, respectively, Shrieve said.

“Our talent level and the girls still trying to get better has really motivated our play and we are having fun,” Shrieve said.

The Comets’ journey to relevance remains unclear. A climb to the top of the BVC charts means overtaking conference-leading Solano and second place Yuba College (4-0-1 overall, 2-0-1 in the BVC).

Both teams have already beaten CCC and the Comets will have to face them again before the end of the month.

CCC’s next match will be on the road today when the squad will face off against Los Medanos College (2-10 overall, 2-4 in the BVC) at 6 p.m.