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Wednesday, October 16,2013
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CCC volleyball team digs deep
David Beasley
Sports Editor
Wednesday vs. New Hope
The stars seemed to align
over Randall gymnasium last
Wednesday evening, when CCC’s
volleyball team defeated the New
Hope Christian College Beacons
in a non-league match.
The Cougars came out strong
from the start. Early in the first set,
No. 11 Kiki Stonebraker, drove
down a powerful spike to put the
team at a 3-0 lead. Stonebraker is
one of only two sophomores out
of the 12 team members.
“I’m the only returner, it’s
brought a completely new chem
istry and it’s refreshing,” said
Stonebraker.
The game was fast paced and
the Cougars commanded the lead.
No. 14 Courtney Lofton scored
with a nice spike and brought
the score to 8-6. With another
highlight, No. 3 Megan Minke
launched a well-placed spike earn
ing 12-8 over the Beacons. The
Cougars won the first set 25-13.
I feel like we improve
every day. Practices
are intense, ifs really
important fo r a champi
onship NWAACC team.
We have a solid group
o f girls who work really
well together. ”
Taylor Balkan
No. 2 Freshman Setter
In set two, the Cougars started
strong again and kept the lead,
using great communication and
teamwork. The Beacons hit quite
a few outs and the Cougars used
The Cougars celebrate one o f many points leading to a victorious Wed eve
ning. From left, No. 10 Hannah Olson, No. 13 Bre Gibbons, No. 2 Taylor
Balkan, No. 12 Skylar Fate. More photos on p 8.
good judgment letting the ball
go out. The Cougars dominated
25-10 in the second set.
“I feel like we improve every
day. Practices are intense, it’s real
ly important for a championship
NWAACC team. We have a solid
group of girls who work really
well together,” said No. 2 Taylor
Balkan.
Set three started more even
and the Beacons stepped it up.
But the Cougars picked up more
steam and grasped the lead. It
was a very close set. A hard-won
Cougar spike after a long vol
ley brought the score to 11-9.
The match became more competi
tive in the third and the Cougars
took their first three time-outs.
The score read 19-16 at the last
TO. The Beacons fought hard but
th e C o u g a rs fin ish ed 2 5 -1 9 in set
three and won the match.
“It was fun, we’re really thrilled
with the season so far,” said head
coach Kathie Woods.
The Chemeketa Tournament in
August was a rude awakening for
the Cougar volleyball team as they
endured a 1-4 in the competition.
The team has been very active
since their first games. They have
had ample time to figure out how
to fight as a team.
competitive. The Randall bleach
“We had a slow start but now ers were full, the crowd was big.
we are 21-7, 3-1 in league,” said The team played well together
Woods.
often. One of the individual suc
The Cougars squad gained cesses was Olson’s great block
momentum in their second tour towards the end of set one, putting
nament o f the season, taking 16-20 on the scoreboard.
home four wins to one loss at the
The Cougars suffered a hard-
Spokane Falls Tournament. They fought loss as set one ended in
went on to remain undefeated a close 21-25. They came back
throughout September.
stronger in the second set. They
“For me, the highlight of the gave Hood a run for their money,
season was the Spokane tourna but even with the loud cheers and
ment,” said Balkan. “We learned support from the Clackamas fans,
to play together; it was a fun learn Hood was able to steal the win
ing experience for everyone.”
for set two. The Cougars looked
The Cougars’ only loss since like they had a chance to win it
the Spokane Falls Tournament after a great serve by Stonebraker,
came Oct. 2 against Linn-Benton. making it 22-24. They had great
Wednesday night’s win gave momentum, getting closer at
Clackamas confidence for their 23-24, but were edged out 23-25.
next game, a league match against
After the second set of the
top regional rival Mount Hood Diggin’ Pink match, 2012 CCC
Community College.
volleyball alumna Annie Cook
“It’s really awesome; we’re on read a tribute in memory of coach
fire this year,” said Stonebraker. Woods’ beloved pet dog Cougie
“We had a 15 game winning and told the crowd about the
streak until Linn-Benton, but fundraiser for animal cancer sup
we’re back on track and ready for port and cancer awareness. The
Hood on Friday. It’s gonna be a Cougars were down but not out;
good game.”
they still had desire to win. The
third set was by far the most excit
Friday vs. Mt. Hood
ing and intense.
“It’s a big match for us, so we
In association with cancer had to give it our all,” said Olson.
awareness month, Friday marked
And they did. They managed
the annual Diggin’ Pink event. to slide ahead on the scoreboard
The fund raiser and proceeds from taking a 7-6 lead. There was a
the game benefited pets with can back and forth battle, with Hood
cer, diabetes and other illnesses.
getting the better of an epically
“Diggin’ Pink is huge for us,” long volley for 7-8. The Cougars
said Woods. “We raised $2,300 later gained an 11-9 lead.
last year. We’re over $1,000 as of
“I thought we played well, but
today [Oct. 11] and we are raising inconsistent, we fought hard,” said
money all of October. Go to the No. 13 Bre Gibbons.
athletic office to donate.”
The fighting continued as
Friday night was for fighting Hood came back with a vicious
as the Cougars and Hood battled five point lead in the remainder
it out for regional supremacy. of set three. The game ended in a
It w a s a r o s e - t in t e d e v e n i n g a s
c le a r w in fo r H o o d at 1 9 -2 5 o f th e
both teams sported pink jerseys third. The Cougars are now 3-2
in honor of cancer awareness. The in NWAACC league, but also an
Cougars even had pink shoelaces impressive 21-8 season total.
There is much to come from
and spotted animal-print shorts.
“We call them Cougar shorts; the championship-minded CCC
they went well with the theme team and the next home game is a
o f tonight,” said No. 10 Hanna league match against Chemeketa.
The Cougars defeated Chemeketa
Olson.
While the Cougars were behind before their match against New
for much o f the game, they had Hope and look to repeat that per
some nice plays and remained formance.
Cougars produce new legends of the fall season
David Beasley
Sports Editor
Amidst the busy bustle of
autumn, new beginnings have
given shape to CCC’s 2013 fall
sports season. With so many
new recruits added to each of the
Cougars’ fall sports teams, this
season promises a fresh experi
ence.
Volleyball
The Volleyball team acquired
11 new players for the season.
The team has a record of 3-2 in
NWAACC league and 21-8 this
season. They are ranked third in
south region.
Cross Country
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Cougar cross country picked
up seven new men and seven
new women this season. The
team competed in a few recent
events. Sept. 7 was- the Clark
XC Classic NWAACC Preview
in Battleground. CCC competed
against Spokane, Clark, Everett,
Highline, Lane, Mt. Hood,
Olympic and SW Oregon. Two
Clackamas runners finished the
men’s 8000 meters ahead of the
rest. Jorge Gil-Juarez was first
with a time of 26:03 and Jackson
Baker came in second at 26:04.
Clackamas competed against
Mt. Hood on Sept. 21 at the Oak
Knoll Loop in Independence,
Ore. Jorge Gil-Juarez finished
the 8000 meters first out of all
NWAACC competitors with a
time of 25:06.15.
CCC hosted the annual Mike
Hodges Invitational this past
Saturday. The Cougars placed
four men in the top five of the
WEDNESDAY -4/17
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Soccer
CCC women’s soccer gained
eight new recruits this fall. The
soccer team is 8-1 -1 in NWAACC
league and 8-3-1 this season.
They are the top team in the south
region and are second in league
points, tied with Walla Walla.
“We’ve had a few good
games, the girls are doing really
well,” said Miriam Coto, assis
tant coach. “Pretty much half the
team is returners, we’ve got a
good freshman class too.”
Non-Fall Sports
CCC’s winter and spring sports
teams have also been gearing up
for their respective seasons.
Wrestling
The wrestling team has been
active as they ready for their
first scheduled events. Navy &
Scarlet, an exhibition, will be at
home on Thursday Oct. 24 start
ing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday Oct. 26
CCC will host their 30th annual
Takedown Tournament which
is open to the public. All ages
and weight classes are eligible.
Registration begins at 8 a.m., a
takedown clinic will be offered
between 9:30-10:30 a.m. and the
competition starts at 11 a.m.
Basketball
The women’s and men’s bas
ketball teams have been hard at
work preparing as well.
“We worked out two to three
days a week during the summer,”
said the men’s head coach Clif
Wegner. “This is our first official
week of practice.”
Softball and Baseball
Both CCC’s softball and base
ball teams have been keeping
busy, practicing and playing non-
ieague games. The baseball team
was proud to have some star
players shine last month at Lower
Columbia in Longview, Wash.
“Seven of our guys were select
ed for the sophomore showcase
All-Star game for NWAACC,”
said Robin Robinson, head base
ball coach. “Four of them have
been heavily recruited since.”
The Cougar baseball team will
play seven weeks of fall ball.
FRIDAY-4/18
• S o c c e r: 1 pm
• S o c c e r : 1 p.m.
Oregon City HS
Stadium
Oregon City HS
Stadium
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8000 meter race against Spokane,
Clark, Highline, Mt. Hood and
SW Oregon. Pake Benthin fin
ished first at 26:19.54, Jackson
Baker was second with 26:19.77,
Jorge Gil-Juarez came in third at
26:19.97 and shortly behind was
Scott Schmitt in fifth at 26:28.03.
CCC men placed first as a team
and the women placed fourth.
• V o l le b a ll: TBA
Belleview CC
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