The Santa Rosa Junior College women’s volleyball team moved to 5-6 on the season after a 3-1 loss to the Hartnell Panthers at home Wednesday.
The team has recently drawn attention from major news outlets due to three players filing a complaint for alleged Title IX violations with the Department of Education, due to having a transgender teammate.
The Bear Cubs came into the game with high hopes after splitting two matches against the Ohlone Renegades on Saturday.
They lost the first set 25-16, struggling with blocks from Hartnell and having trouble with out-of-bounds plays.
SRJC bounced back in the second set, winning 26-24 in overtime. They got out to an early 7-0 lead, but the Panthers closed the gap as the set progressed. After some key plays and long rallies, the Bear Cubs held on for the set win.
The Panthers won the last two sets with a 25-22 and 25-20 score. The Bear Cubs kept the third set close, never trailing by more than two. When the set got to 22-22, SRJC fell short and lost the final three points.
Despite the loss, setter Lily Comma served and defended the ball efficiently in this set, with three service aces and 21 assists in the entire match.
Comma spoke about her serving technique.
“Our coaches usually give us zones of the court to serve to, to try and get the passers on the other side to have miscommunication,” she said. “We’ve really been focusing on getting the first serve in and then progressing into tougher spots.”
“We have been very focused on taking care of our minds and bodies, especially with the stress we have all been facing,” Comma said. “I am very grateful to have a supportive coaching staff that builds us all up, and we are always focused on the next game. Road games are always hard, but we are ready to play hard and compete on Friday, and I am confident that we will walk away satisfied with the way we play.”
The Bear Cubs will play on the road for the next three games traveling to Solano College for two games on Friday, Sept. 12, and then to Sierra College on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
The team will make their way back to Haehl Pavilion for a home game against the Sacramento City Panthers on Friday, Sept. 19.
