Rachel Roth, Spring 2009 Staff Writer
There are three elements needed to play Brahma Ball at Pierce College are to master the fundamentals, be a team player and compete like crazy.
Friday night, in front of a crowd so cacophonous it was difficult to hear the announcer at times. The women’s volleyball team demonstrated exactly what it means to play Brahma ball all when they beat Santa Monica College 3-0.
“The girls are playing well,” head coach Nabil Mardini said of his team’s 13th shutout victory of the season. “It was a job very well done.”
The raucous fans crowded the South Gym to watch the women’s team win their 56th in-a-row victory at home, a winning streak that dates back to October 2002.
The Pierce College’s men’s volleyball team was on hand to cheer on their female counterparts by painting their bodies red with the words “go Pierce” painted across their chests.
“It’s good to support the same sport,” said Alex Cottier from the men’s team.
“The girls are number one and that’s pretty rare. There can only be one number one in the state.”
Even though the Brahmas dominated SMC, winning 25-15, 25-11 and 25-8, the night started out slowly for Pierce. SMC closed in on the Brahmas during the first set. With the score 11-9, Mardini called a time out.
Pierce went on a 7-0 scoring run after the time out and didn’t let up for the rest of the night.
“We made more errors (in the first set) than usual, but we picked it up,” Mardini said.
The Brahmas came out swinging in the third set of the night, starting the game with seven unanswered points and closing it out with a 6-0 run.
Sarah Martin, ranked eighth in the state in kills, led the team with nine. She also contributed three aces. Janet Alvarado, outside hitter, and opposite Vanessa Murray added six kills. Brooke McFerren contributed five.
For SMC, the goal was simply to compete with the team ranked first in the state. Nicole Ryan, head coach of the Corsairs, was pleased with her team’s effort.
“I’m happy with the way my team battled. They showed a lot of heart out there,” she said after the game.
Pierce, now 19-1 for the season, is close to tying Lane Community College’s women’s basketball team for most consecutive home wins in collegiate sports history. The Eugene, Oregon squad is currently on a 63-game win streak at home.
Sophomore setter Terry Soltani, ranked first in the state in assists, credits the success of the Brahmas to their work ethic and mind set.
“I think a problem (for other teams) is that they play down to the level of the other team,” Soltani said. “We play our game no matter who we’re playing.”
In his eight years a head coach, Mardini believes his current squad is his most talented.
“I’ve had good athletes in a specific position, but this team is so balanced. We have all of the tools: good setters, great back court, great hitters, we block well and we serve well,” he said.
After the game, the team celebrated defensive specialist Jessica Reyes’ birthday with cupcakes. More icing ended up in the girls’ faces and on the floor of the gym than in their mouths, but after all of their hard work so far this season, they deserve to have a little fun.
Pierce travels to Bakersfield on Tuesday where they will face Bakersfield College, who are 10-3 for the season.
(Top L-R) Pierce middle hitter Brooke McFerren and opposite hitter Vanessa Murray block a play against Santa Monica College in the third quarter Friday. Pierce defeated Santa Monica College, 3-0. (Drake Zimmerman)