By Pristine Tompkin
The new sport of beach volleyball continues to prove why adding it was a good decision. They have been improving throughout the season, which explains their 7-3 overall record.
They defeated Rio Hondo 5-0 despite losing 3-2 to Santa Ana College in the second match March 30.
The Tigers won six sweeps and seven pairs matches out of ten.
Sophomore Amanda Barker reflected on how the team did in these matches and how they have been refining their performance throughout the season.
“I think that as a whole, we have greatly improved as a team,” Barker said. “We have gained really good chemistry with our partners which helps us communicate and play smarter.”
Good chemistry seem to be a factor that Sabrina Gonzaga and Marissa Vialpando posses as they were able to win their pairs of matches, along with the Tigers other team of Melissa Moe and Hailey Krewson.
The team of Gonzaga and Vialpando have not lost a single match this season so far.
Head coach Jamie Hofman said not dropping a game may work in their favor.
“Since we are coming off two weeks without a loss I think it will give the girls the confidence they need going into the next matches,” Hofman said. “If they play like they have been playing they will come out on top.”
Three of the two player teams won their pair of matches, including the team of Lauren Wells and Yaneli Fernandez.
Wells gave praise to her teammates Gonzaga and Vialpando.
“Sabrina and Marissa play great together,” she said. “They are constantly talking on the court and they find the open shots.”
The Tigers went 3-2 against San Diego City and 5-0 against Mt. San Jacinto in the March 25 matches.
The Tigers beat the Knights twice before earlier in the season.
Barker, who helped her partner Bethany Walsh defeat the Knights in their match, also said that although their schedule is getting more difficult she believes they can pull through.
“The next couple teams we play are tough schools and will be pretty challenging,” she said. “But if we all focus on what we do best and play the way I have seen us play before, I know we can end the day with an overall win.”
The Tigers are scheduled to face San Diego Mesa on April 8 at San Diego Mesa College.
