Occidental women’s volleyball suffered losses in back-to-back games last week, falling to Chapman Oct. 23 and Whittier Oct. 25. The team lost both matches by a final set score of 2-3, and the decisive fifth set ended in a 13-15 defeat for the Tigers in both games.
Head Coach Emily Foster said recent hire Stephen Bernabe is not a coach for the team anymore. Bernabe was hired over the summer, and this was his first season as an assistant coach working for the volleyball program.
“We appreciate [Bernabe’s] time [though] he’s no longer with the team,” Foster said.
Foster said a lack of offensive variability played a role in the team’s struggles.
“A major focus of ours going forward [is] diversifying our offense and being able to get kills from multiple positions,” Foster said. “We were pretty one-dimensional offensively.”
Foster said the losses showed the players’ resilience and helped them develop.
“Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, [the losses were] a big confidence builder for our team,” Foster said. “[The players’] adaptability and willingness to do their best in whatever role they’re in has been impressive. It speaks to their determination.”
Assistant Coach Trevor Vlaming said he attributed the losses to inexperience and nervousness.
“[As] a product of being a younger team […] in the plays where we are going back and forth and the ball’s not falling, the anxiety rises because you don’t want to be the player to lose that point,” Vlaming said. “There’s so much energy behind it. One of the problems is we lose the aggressive edge because we don’t want to make a mistake.”
Vlaming said he was impressed with how much better the team has gotten recently.
“I remember being [at practice] the first week and just seeing simple mistakes,” Vlaming said. “They really wanted to fix it, and almost every single player would come up to a coach and ask for pointers and notes. I like seeing them wanting to change.”
Vlaming said the players are still very motivated and that the coaches are pushing them even harder.
“Just because the season’s wrapping up doesn’t mean that people are going to stop trying,” Vlaming said. “We’re still going to go hard. We love [our players], but [the coaches] will always be intense in wanting to push [them] 100%. They’re the ones who have to choose that.”
Elizabeth Hulett (junior) said the team’s performances were commendable despite the losses.
“Honestly, I think we played really well,” Hulett said. “They were two really incredible games, especially against Whittier, a team that we haven’t beat before […] In terms of being better, it comes down to little points.”
Despite recent struggles, Hulett said the team’s mindset and goals remain consistent.
“I think getting some more SCIAC wins under our belt would be amazing,” Hulett said. “We’ve improved a lot, especially since last season. We’re in a really good place as a team.”
Hulett said the team has developed a strong bond throughout the year.
“Even just coming into the gym and asking someone about their day keeps you connected,” Hulett said. “Doing the little things, like going to dinner, has built that trust. We’ve made [solid bonds] this season.”
Elizabeth Hermosillo (junior) said the team has remained in good spirits regardless of undesirable game outcomes.
“We’re looking forward to the rest of [the] SCIAC [season],” Hermosillo said. “We want to win the rest of our games.”
Hermosillo said trust between teammates is a key factor to victory.
“Trust is so important,” Hermosillo said. “It could decide a game. If someone doesn’t trust the person behind them to get a ball, that could end a point. [Our trust] has been prominent in the games we’ve played. When we win, it’s because everyone trusts each other.”
Lila Payne (first year) said the team’s belief in themselves is a testament to their dedication.
“Everyone needs to be bought into the program and on the same page,” Payne said. “I came into a program that already has that. The focus and the energy is great. You would never know that we have a losing record right now.”
Payne said she thinks the team is close to turning a corner.
“A couple less poorly timed errors, and we’re coming out on top,” Payne said.
Contact Mac Ribner at ribner@oxy.edu and Angus Kapstein Parkhill at parkhill@oxy.edu
