By Will Herbert
Lions Drop Volleyball Home Opener, Encouraged by Showing After Quick Turnaround
On Wednesday night at the Athletics Center, Community College of Philadelphia Lions kicked off the women’s volleyball season with a loss in three sets, 25-13, 25-14, 25-20, to the Road Runners of Rowan College of South Jersey – Gloucester.
The final outcome was not indicative of how competitive the game was overall. In each set, the Lions took an early lead before the Road Runners responded.
CCP’s Sofia Arborio opened the game with a service ace, and both teams went on runs in the first set that led to opposing timeouts. The Road Runners called for time first after the Lions cut an early deficit to three points.
RCSJ – Gloucester responded with a 9-2 run of their own, prompting CCP to talk it over. However, the Road Runners kept on the gas and closed out the first set.
Arborio led off the second set with multiple service winners, and Onyi Patrick followed up a block with a tip to close out a nice rally, giving CCP an early 4-1 lead. However, return errors plagued the Lions for stretches of the game, and they struggled to maintain the early momentum. RSCJ – Gloucester took the second set with a similar run to the first set.
The third set was hotly contested throughout, and the hustle of the Lions started to pay off. The biggest moment for CCP came after winning the longest rally of the night, which was capped by a Road Runner fault that sent the crowd into an uproar.
A tip by Aniyiah Winchester pulled the Lions within striking distance late. However, the Road Runners were able to cap off the third set with service winners to seal the game.
“Getting to 20 in the third set was fabulous. We’re trying out new things…different settings, different situations. The girls all played really, really well,” Coach Nicole Vadino said in the postgame interview.
Despite the loss, players were encouraged about their performance given the short amount of time the team has been together.
“I feel as though we did very well…over the past week of us trying to get the rotation, some people have been here, some people haven’t been here,” Mahogany Williamson-McCants said after the game. “But at the end of the day we all came together and we all did great.”
The opening game comes off the heels of a quick turnaround, as the team roster was just finalized last Wednesday according to Vadino.
“A week of practices and not many people being here for most of them…I think we did an amazing job. I’m proud of us,” Winchester said after the game.
“Because of time constraints and because of classes, two of the athletes had very few practices together,” Vadino said, noting that having more time together and getting to know one another on the court will be beneficial to the team.
RCSJ – Gloucester came into this game having won their first two matches in Division III play.
All 11 Lions were in action tonight, and there were no injuries to report. Captains Winchester & Williamson-McCants are two of the three returning players, with Winchester returning after a season away from the team. Ellawyn Marvelous also returns from last season’s roster.
After a road game against Montgomery County Community College, the next home game for the Lions of CCP is on Wednesday, September 23 at 6 p.m. in the Athletics Center against Delaware County.
CCP home games are free to attend.
