Volleyball Program Opens with Victory
The Gators women's volleyball team (in white tops) swept three sets from Virginia University of Lynchburg in its first match as a club team.
Virginia Peninsula Community College women's volleyball coach Jasmine Sanders admits to having high expectations personally and professionally. With her team's sweep of Virginia University-Lynchburg in the program's first competition as a club team, expectations for the rest of the season increased.
"It gives me an expectation, a higher one," she said of the Gators' 25-16, 25-18, 25-20 victory Oct. 8 at Liberty Live Church in Hampton.
The College announced in April it was adding six sports, two at a time for three consecutive years. The two programs joining the existing three (men's and women's basketball, and baseball) for the 2022-23 academic year are women's volleyball and softball. The volleyball team is competing as a club team this year, and will join the New South Athletic Conference next year.
The debut for the volleyball team couldn't have gone better.
"I was quite satisfied with the girls' performance in the first two matches, but by the third one, I was ready to jump off the sideline," Sanders said. "I think in that third match they lost a little focus."
In the first set, the Gators fell behind 3-0, tied the match 8-8 and eventually stretched the lead to 20-8 before closing it out. They took a 12-6 in the second set, but the visitors closed it to 16-12 before the Gators finished with a 9-6 run. The Gators struggled some in the final set, falling behind early before tying it at 16, and then taking the lead for good 19-18 on their way to a 25-20 victory to close out the best-of-5 match.
Even though the Gators struggled late, Sanders liked what she saw.
"Because a lot of the girls haven't played before, I was particularly impressed with how well they did under pressure and how well they were able to adjust and see the court and the game," she said.
Among the players who stood out were Hannah Sweazey, Jayla Riddick, and captain Mattie McLaughlin.
"They did really well adjusting," Sanders said. "Hanna did great on the back line, and Jayla came through with some backline hits. I was impressed."
She said their front-line attack needs work, and they need to be more aggressive at the net.
There were more than 100 spectators in attendance, which was a great surprise for Sanders.
"It was nice energy," she said, giving credit to athletics director and men's basketball coach Chris Moore for encouraging people to attend the match.
It wasn't just other athletes cheering on the team.
"The community, it was a lot of support that I didn't even know we would have," Sanders said. "I think everybody's excited about this volleyball team."
The team's next match is Oct. 25 at Liberty Live Church against Regent University. The starting time is 6 p.m. Sanders has high expectations for that match also.
"I want to see them grow and improve each match," she said. "My expectations are just going to go higher."
For the team's schedule, go to https://www.vpcc.edu/life/Athletics/womens-volleyball-schedule.html.
To listen to the conference podcast about the win, go to https://open.spotify.com/episode/6W3FJnyy76N6kwuaN8yXjW?si=fdeed1d8d5f843a0&nd=1