By Eryn Brennan
In Motion Staff Writer
Freshman player number 11, Marija Janjusevic, blocks the last point in the game against St. Johns River, as teammates celebrate the win.
“We got the chance to try a lot, play different combinations and try new things,” said Alica Kandler, a sophomore who plays the outside position.
Although the team is doing well now, they had a less than auspicious beginning to the season. They lost their first three games, 1-3 against Polk Sate College on Aug. 25, 0-3 against Palm Beach State College on Aug. 28 and 1-3 against Indian River State College also on Aug. 28, after which they had a series of ups and downs before really hitting their stride.
“We had kind of a rough start. We needed a little time to come together as a team because so many of us our new,” said Kandler.
And come together they did. They practiced two-and-half hours per day, two to three days per week during a season where they have played at least two games a week, sometimes more.
Little by little, they started to see their efforts pay off. They have won their last five games, 3-1 against Saint Johns River on Oct. 13, 3-2 against Sante Fe College on Oct. 15, 3-1 against Florida State Jacksonville on Oct. 20, 3-0 against Lake Sumter State College on Oct. 22 and of course, 3-0 against Broward College at the Oct. 24 game.
As of the Oct. 24 game they have a total record of 17-11 for the season and finished with a record of 8-2 for the Mid-Florida Conference.
“They’ve really turned it around. We finished second in conference,” said Coach Stegall.
Now, the team faces their next challenge: The Florida Regional Tournament, which will last from Nov. 5 to 8. They will be playing Hillsborough Community College in the opening round, a team they have faced twice before this season. They lost 1-3 the first time they played them on Aug. 29, but won 3-0 almost a month later on Sept. 25, a testament to how far they’ve come.
On her hopes for Regionals, Coach Stegall said that she “would love to see us finish top three and head to The National Tournament.” A goal that seems obtainable if their recent performance is any indication.
“We’ve got a good chance at Nationals, we’ve just got to take it,” said Kandler.