“We’ve been working well in practices [and] improving with every game,” said freshman middle blocker Kayla Eddings, who finished with a game-high 13 kills. “We know that we can win, we have that confidence now.”
The Raiders could have used some of that confidence tonight. They committed 21 errors to Citrus’ 20, but several were of the inexcusable variety.
Moorpark had a chance to cut an Owl first-set lead down to four during the latter stages of the first set. At 20-15, Raider middle blocker Brittany Sharpe put up a perfect set , but the ball came down untouched in the center of a circle of teammates.
“It just comes down to execution,” said Moorpark head coach Steve Burkhart. “We’re just not executing well enough to stay with teams that dig.”
“I have to go back and credit [the team] for having great practices yesterday and Monday,” said Owl head coach Shin Jung. “Without having good practices, we can’t accomplish anything.”
But good doesn’t beat perfect.
The team’s last loss came in straight sets against powerhouse #2-ranked Orange Coast, which gave the Owls a less-than-impressive 1-3 record. But that streak is danger of being snapped on the road this Friday against consensus #1 LA Pierce College (13-0), as the Brahmas have won 47 games in row.
If there wasn’t enough at stake already, the match will kick off conference play for Citrus.
“I’m extremely excited for that game,” Eddings said. “I want to see if we can hang, [but] I know that we can. I just want to do as much as I can for my team.”
Jung is also looking forward to the matchup.
“Pierce is a monster,” he said. “Every time that we play them, home or away, we battle. That’s what I expect from my volleyball players.”
The Owls go on the road to play the LA Pierce Brahmas Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.
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