the clackamas print 3
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009
blleyball digs deep for playoffs
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All photos by John Petty Clackamas Print
eft to right: Kylee Perez, Richelle Heacock, Kelli Gamble, Rachael Strong, Shikara White, Sabrina Nelson and Vanity Massey stand along the endline
to a game against Chemeketa Community College. Clackamas beat Chemeketa in five games on Oct. 28.
lh
He Woods and
romen’s volley-
eam prepare for
^ost-season and
to be on top of
game come the
tVACC champi-
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By Mark Foster
I Sports Editor
lb a team evenly split
tn sophomores and
pen, Kathie Woods and
ougar volleyball team
Io break out in the play-
^^^F
Clackamas’ women’s volley
ball team is hoping it can turn
a season of ups and downs
around and make a run at
an NWAACC title. One thing
Woods feels could be the big
gest downfall of the team is
their focus mentally. Woods
believes that this is what the
team needs to work on most;
they have the physical talent
but they need to anticipate
what could happen next rather
than just reacting.
Last years’ regular season
domination and NWAACC
tournament run will be tough
to top. Going 41-15 in regu
lar season play in 2008, the
Cougars finished fourth in
post-season
play.
“Every team is
different and has
their individual
strengths. This
team is a team
of great charac
ter. They respect
each other and
work hard. They
give 100 percent
in school, volley-
F
ball and life,” said
Woods.
After the game against Mt.
Hood Community College on
Nov. 6, Woods thought her
team showed what they can do
against top tier teams in the
conference. Though losing to
MHCC, the Cougars showed
promise for the near future.
Shikara White, a sopho
more on the team, recorded 24
kills in the game leading the
team with almost half of the
total kills for the game.
About the game, Woods
said, “After last night’s game
with Mt. Hood, it regained our
confidence of being able to
upset many teams and making
our goal to win the NWAACC
championship.”
Confidence is key for a
team that has not performed
as well as previous Cougar
teams, Woods admitted, “It’s
been a season of ups and
downs.” Knowing their abili
ties and strengths on the
court will help this team go
deep into the post season.
She feels that this year’s
team has an edge over others
physically. Woods said, “Our
biggest strength going into
playoffs is our physical. We
are very good offensively and
can put up a good block.”
She also was reluctant to
say, though, that her team
does sometimes lose their fo
cus mentally and stray away
from the gameplan and strat
egy. Woods did come back
by noting that the team is
very determined and has good
practice habits.
After the season ends, the
work does not for Woods.
Losing all five sophomores
along with one freshman, she
agreed there will be a lot of
shoes to fill come next sea
son.
“We are presently recruit
ing and looking for the best
possible people to step in and
help continue the winning tra
dition of Cougar Volleyball,”
said Woods. “We have some
great prospects and are excit
ed about the future, as well as
the present.”
A big part of what Woods
does with her recruits is not
just volleyball related. She
tries to help her players grow
both on and off the court.
“I love seeing these young
ladies grow and mature as
people and also as volleyball
players, while having suc
cess in their education,” said
Woods.
With the NWAACC cham
pionships readily approach
ing, Woods and her squad
look to gain momentum and
work out the kinks come
game time. For a coach with a
strong winning tradition, she
knows the real work begins
now in order for her team to
be playing their best come
Nov. 19.
Middle blocker Caitlin Howard (13) and setter Richelle
Heacock (5) get ready to serve-receive.
Got hunting pho
tos? Send them in
or bring them by
The Print office
and we may use
them in a future
issue.
,
▼
Sophomore Joanna Abraham
goes up for a kill.