P R IN T : Sports
Q »*♦ Wednesday, Nov. 7,2012
Cougars suffer loss, remain positive
Andrew Millbrooke
Sports Editor
Mt. Hood showed why they are
the class o f the NWAACC Southern
Region in | easily dispatching
Clackamas in three games (25-23,
25-18, and 25-11) on Friday night
to win its 11th straight match. The
Saints are now 10-0 in region play
and have already secured the top
seed in the NWAACC tournament.
The loss came on “Sophomore
Night,” as the Cougars honored
their two-year players with roses in
a pre-game ceremony.
“The last game, against a big
opponent, and the game means a
lot to us,” said head coach Kathie
Woods o f the final home game for
many o f her players. “It is emotion
al. These girls have worked hard
for two years. It is tough to focus
with all o f that emotion.”
Clackamas came out fired up
and almost stole game one, gain
ing a 23-20 lead, before M t Hood
rallied to score the last five points
to take the game, 25 to 23. “We
played really hard and intense and
did all the right things that first
game,” said Woods. “But when it
got really tight at the end we kind
o f buckled.”
Mt. Hood had a formidable
front line that punished the Cougar
defense with hard spikes and cre
ated havoc on defense with lots of
blocks on Cougar scoring opportu
nities. Some o f the players agreed
that they lost focus towards the end
o f the game, but they gave a lot of
credit to the Saints.
“They are a very smart team,”
said sophomore Brittany Bevens.
“They went from swinging away to
Kiki Stonebraker (center) returns one o f many digs put forth from the dominating Mt. Hood Saints. Although the Cougars lost the match Friday,
strated many moments o f strong defense against the top seeded team in the southern division.
chipping and they found the holes.”
Mt. Hood consistently found the
weak spots in the Cougar defense
and exploited it with a variety o f
shots from all angles. “There is
a reason they are undefeated in
league,” said Woods; “They have
momentum going for them and they
don’t make the same errors we do.”
Sophomore libero Maeghan
Angel also gave praise to the
Saints. “Mt. Hood showed up,”
said Angel. “They progressively
wanned up and came at us. They
are a good team.”
Freshman Kiki Stonebraker led
the Cougars with seven kills and
sophomore Julia Toscano added
embracing family and friends after
the game, as it was the last time
they will wear the Cougar uniform
in a home match. “It is surreal,”
said Bevens. “I can’t believe that
was our last game. It went by so
fast. I’m so sad it’s over.”
Angel got visibly choked up
when thinking about the last two
and Kaitlyn Douglass both had
11 assists to pace the squad, while
Angel led them with 19 digs.
Many o f the sophomores were
Woods has created. “Kathie is
a huge impact in my life,” said
Angel. “She molds us into grown
women.”
y ears and the, team bo n d .that-CQach-
The Cougars (21-24, 3-6) have
not qualified for the NWAACC
tournament right now. It depends
on how the Cougars fare in the
final game o f the season on
Wednesday at Linn-Benton in
Albany. The Cougars need a win
and aChemeketa loss to Mt. Hood,
to force a tie and a one game play-
off. “W hat would he lp us i s beating
Linn-Benton on Wednesday,” said
Woods. “That is what w e’re shoot
ing for.”
Cougar fundraiser helps ‘dig’
away at animal suffering
Andrew Millbrooke
Sports Editor
Maeghan Angel goes fo r one o f her team-leading 19 digs in Friday’s loss
against Mt. Hood.
■i
Diggin Pink a major suc
cess for CCC Volleyball
where and when.”
Sophomore setter Samantha
Owirka was named Cougar player
o f the week for the most recent
week o f the season. “Sam has
been working hard all season and
her confidence is finally start
ing to show,” said Woods. “ She
responded well in the Mt. Hood
match and I am excited to see her
continue to improve.” .
NWAACC offensive player o f
the week this last week for our
offense,” said Woods. “She has
really been working hard on
her swing and timing and it has
really paid off.”
Sophomore libero Maeghan
Angel won the NWAACC
defensive player o f the week
award during week six and
setters Taylor Copeland and
Kaitlyn Douglass have both
won Southern Region set
ter o f the week this season.
Copeland has taken home
Southern Region setter o f the
week honors twice this season,
in weeks four and eight.
The Cougar volleyball team
announced that they raised
more than $2,300 during the
“Diggin Pink” promotion last
Julia
Toscano
named
month. The funds raised go
to Southgate Animal Clinic NWAAGC offensive player of
to pay for animals suffering the week
Toscano becam e the first
from disease or abuse issues.
Clackamas head coach Kathie Cougar to w in an offensive
Woods recently lost her canine NWAACC award this season.
companion o f 11 years, Lucie “I ’m so proud that Julia got
Sllilft;
“Cougie” Woods, to cancer.
“I’m very thrilled what
Clackamas volleyball was able
to donate to Southgate Animal
Clinic in helping animals live
full, healthy lives,” said Woods.
Freshm an outside hit
ter Annie Cook was named
Cougar player o f the week by
the coaching staff and had a
big role in helping raise money
for Diggin Pink. “O ff the court
Annie took on the role o f self-
nominated project manager in
helping me run the ‘I’m Diggin
Pink* fundraiser,” said Woods.
“Annie was a great contribu
tion in us exceeding our goal.”
Woods has been impressed
with Cook’s leadership role on
the team. “She is a great team
player and helps every Cougar
be better,” said Woods. “Annie
is mature and communicates to
Kathie Woods (right center with envelope) and the Cougar volleyball team
her teammates what is needed,
present the check to Southgate Animal Clinic.