The Olympian

Issue date: 10/24/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Sophie Siemion Over the top. OC's Caitlin Swift (5) jumps for an ace with some back up from her teammate Amber Lyons (11). Despite some outstanding individual performnces, the team is still near the bottom of their division.

With two games left in the regular
season, Olympic College's volleyball
team looks at why they are 2-8 on the
season and next to last in their division.
"Communication," freshman Abbie
Marcum said as to what her team's
biggest weakness is.
She said the only way for the team
to improve is through repetition.
Marcum said the team is going to
keep it simple and focus on winning
the next few games.
That strategy worked on Oct. 17
in an away game against winless
Everett. Marcum came away with 10
kills and three aces after the Rangers
beat Everett in three straight games.
Sophomore Cat Swift said the
strongest attribute of the struggling
team is passion.
"We get along really well on and
off the court," she said
Swift said the team needs to
improve in their mental game and be
more consistent. That may have been
a factor in losing to Skagit Valley on
Friday.
Despite 15 digs from Renee
Blackenship, 11 kills from Liz Davis
and 28 assists from Amber Lyons, the
Rangers were not able to win a single
match, walking away with a 3-0 loss.
"We have a lot of potential,"
Assistant Coach Misty Mackie said.
"We just have to fight through the
mental blocks."
Statistics aside, Mackie said this
year's team has improved over last
year's because "they are actually a
team." She said they get along and
work well together.
"They just need to find that magic
on the court," Mackie said. She said
the team can win if they believe 100
percent that they are capable of winning.
The next few weeks will challenge
the team's abilities. The Rangers travel
to Shoreline (4-5) on Wednesday.
Then on Tuesday they face off
against Whatcom, the top team in the
NWAACC North Division, at home.

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