By Donevan Aceves, Sept. 21, 2021
On Sept. 17, the CPP volleyball team competed against the Stanislaus State Warriors at Fitzpatrick Arena, resulting in their seventh consecutive win of the season.
They quickly trailed 4-0 in the first set, but it didn’t take too long for the Broncos to respond on offense and defense as they were able to fend off the warriors to win the first set 25-19. With eight total ties throughout the second set, a late offensive surge propelled the broncos to a 25-22 advantage. By the end of the third set, the Broncos claimed victory with a 25-16 score.
The team’s chemistry has played a big part in their success, according to senior setter Kira Zimmerman.
“The biggest contributor to our team’s success is how poised we are on the court. We have many experienced athletes out there and we remain calm no matter what the opponents are doing,” said Zimmerman. “Our success has definitely given us a nice boost of confidence, but we’re hungry for more and regardless of our record right now, we always have our goals in mind to keep us wanting more.”
The team’s season got off to a strong start as they went 3-0 at the Bronco Fall Classic, beating Western New Mexico, Western Oregon and Concordia. The Broncos continued their success at the SoCal Freeway Challenge with four more wins against Point Loma, Northwest Nazarene, Fresno Pacific and Westminster, improving their overall record to 7-0.
Ahead of their first conference game, the Broncos received exciting news as they placed at a high ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The Broncos came in at No. 25 in the recent poll, marking the first time the team has
been mentioned in the top 25 since 2018.
For senior middle blocker Ruki Kennedy, the team’s recent victories have only fueled their determination to win upcoming matches.
“Personally, I try to look ahead. Winning is great, but we can’t rest on our laurels,” Kennedy said.
Winning their first conference match of the season, the Broncos look forward to playing just as aggressively throughout the rest of the CCAA conference, according to sophomore outside hitter Kylie Brandt.
“I think it was so important for our team to start off with a win today because it sets the tone for the rest of the season and allows us to continue to have the confidence to win more
games,” said Brandt. “Every team is very different, and we continue to overcome the adversity of each match. After one season of not playing, we are just excited to be back out on the court and I’m so proud of how we play our hardest each night.”
The Broncos also traveled to Chico State on Sept. 18 where they swept the Wildcats in three straight sets.
Team stats, highlights and livestreams of the game can be found on the CPP Athletics Department website.
Featured image courtesy of CPP Athletics Department
