2008 Woodie Awards
Lady Harvesters serve up a win
Duncan McClain
Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: The Games
After winning their first game against Texas College on Aug. 22, the Lady Harvesters beat Jarvis College in straight sets to improve to 2-0.
In the first set Eastfield started down by two. After climbing back to an 11-11 tie, a serve by sophomore Lindsay Files gave the team their first lead of the evening. Jarvis managed to tie the game at 15-15, but Eastfield scored four in a row while Mikayla Medley served. Sophomore Carla Littleton spiked the game to a comfortable finish at 25-19.
"The team is playing together really well right now," head volleyball coach Audrey Glasscock. "And if we have a shift in momentum they don't let it get them down."
The second set started with the lady Harvesters again trailing by several. A block by freshman Maegan Gibbs put Eastfield within one at 6-7 and set the tone as the Harvesters pulled away. Even though Jarvis scored four unanswered points mid-game, Eastfield poured it on late finishing again at 25-19.
Jarvis overcame an early deficit and had the Lady Harvesters down 15-20 in the third set. Eastfield rallied and went on a 10-3 run that included Gibbs diving twice to keep play going and an ace by Makayla Hix to finish 25-23.
Glasscock said the three set win had definite improvement from the first game, a full five set match.
"Both schools were four year NAI schools, so those were good wins for us," she said. "In our upcoming games we'll also be playing some tough division I competition, which will prepare us for conference."
Having only nine players on the roster meant few substitutions against a Jarvis team with more depth. The team has two new additions that will take pressure off of starters.
"We played really well the first game, but by the third game we had slowed down a little bit," Gibbs said
This is Glasscock's first year as head coach and the 2-0 start is exceptional considering how many players were signed three months ago.
"There were basically three girls when I got here, two of which were returning," Glasscock said. "So my focus was get out there and contact as many people as I could. You definitely want to look for talent, but you also have to find girls that can take it."
Glasscock said the way the young team has come together is what's creating wins.
"I'm very big on team camaraderie and that's what's helping us right now," she said. "We may lack some height compared to some other teams, but our effort and our hustle is getting us through."
Team captain Lindsay Files remembers what practice was like under former coach Reggie Cajayon and thinks Glasscock is the difference.
"Honestly, it's coach making us work hard in practice," she said. "She's more on time with things than Cajayon was and she pushes us harder." .
Conference play starts Sept. 22 against Mountain View. The Lady Harvesters next game is on Aug. 28 against Vernon College, the school Glasscock coached at previous to Eastfield. Files said the team wants to win the game for her.
"She wants to beat them really bad," Gibbs said. "Some of the girls there are girls that she recruited."
With new additions on the roster and coaching tree, Eastfield looks to be poised for a successful season.
"I'm hoping our momentum will carry us through and the girls we're adding will get in, work hard and be able to fit in."
Contact Duncan at duncan_mcclain@yahoo.com.
In the first set Eastfield started down by two. After climbing back to an 11-11 tie, a serve by sophomore Lindsay Files gave the team their first lead of the evening. Jarvis managed to tie the game at 15-15, but Eastfield scored four in a row while Mikayla Medley served. Sophomore Carla Littleton spiked the game to a comfortable finish at 25-19.
"The team is playing together really well right now," head volleyball coach Audrey Glasscock. "And if we have a shift in momentum they don't let it get them down."
The second set started with the lady Harvesters again trailing by several. A block by freshman Maegan Gibbs put Eastfield within one at 6-7 and set the tone as the Harvesters pulled away. Even though Jarvis scored four unanswered points mid-game, Eastfield poured it on late finishing again at 25-19.
Jarvis overcame an early deficit and had the Lady Harvesters down 15-20 in the third set. Eastfield rallied and went on a 10-3 run that included Gibbs diving twice to keep play going and an ace by Makayla Hix to finish 25-23.
Glasscock said the three set win had definite improvement from the first game, a full five set match.
"Both schools were four year NAI schools, so those were good wins for us," she said. "In our upcoming games we'll also be playing some tough division I competition, which will prepare us for conference."
Having only nine players on the roster meant few substitutions against a Jarvis team with more depth. The team has two new additions that will take pressure off of starters.
"We played really well the first game, but by the third game we had slowed down a little bit," Gibbs said
This is Glasscock's first year as head coach and the 2-0 start is exceptional considering how many players were signed three months ago.
"There were basically three girls when I got here, two of which were returning," Glasscock said. "So my focus was get out there and contact as many people as I could. You definitely want to look for talent, but you also have to find girls that can take it."
Glasscock said the way the young team has come together is what's creating wins.
"I'm very big on team camaraderie and that's what's helping us right now," she said. "We may lack some height compared to some other teams, but our effort and our hustle is getting us through."
Team captain Lindsay Files remembers what practice was like under former coach Reggie Cajayon and thinks Glasscock is the difference.
"Honestly, it's coach making us work hard in practice," she said. "She's more on time with things than Cajayon was and she pushes us harder." .
Conference play starts Sept. 22 against Mountain View. The Lady Harvesters next game is on Aug. 28 against Vernon College, the school Glasscock coached at previous to Eastfield. Files said the team wants to win the game for her.
"She wants to beat them really bad," Gibbs said. "Some of the girls there are girls that she recruited."
With new additions on the roster and coaching tree, Eastfield looks to be poised for a successful season.
"I'm hoping our momentum will carry us through and the girls we're adding will get in, work hard and be able to fit in."
Contact Duncan at duncan_mcclain@yahoo.com.
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