Chukars cause quake in Cali
Sunday, August 30, 2009 1:14 AM PDT
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| Argus Observer file photo
Treasure Valley Community College’s sophomore outside hitter Stephanie O’Connor (front) slams down a kill in this Argus Observer file photo taken last year. O’Connor and the Lady Chukars shipped out to California to participate in a pair of tournament games Saturday. The Chukars swept past San Jose City College and Skyline College. |
Argus Observer Sports Staff
Oroville, Calif.—In her first two games of the 2009 season, Treasure Valley Community College sophomore Stephanie O’Connor served, set and spiked her squad to wins.
O’Connor, of Ontario High School, tallied a combined 13 kills, 28 assists, 18 digs and seven service aces to lead the Lady Chukars to a pair of three-game sweeps over San Jose City College and Skyline College Saturday in a preseason college volleyball tournament action in Oroville, Calif.
“She (O’Connor) is just doing really well and she is seeing the ball a lot ball better. She came in in the offseason, put in a lot of work and has started playing well,” TVCC head coach Dennis Gill said.
After going 3-3 in Friday scrimmage workouts against Lassen Community College and Shasta College, the Chukars came out a day later with a 25-16, 25-14, 25-10 sweep over San Jose City College in their tournament opener.
O’Connor led with five kills, 10 assists and nine digs, while teammates Amanda Dunson and Carolina Santana added five services aces each. Vale High School graduate, Katy Lutjens tallied two blocks to round out the statistical leaders.
In the nightcap, Hailey Curtis threw down five kills and six aces, and O’Connor rattled off an all-around match with eight kills, 18 assists, seven aces and nine digs to lead TVCC to a 25-17, 25-10, 25-16 sweep over Skyline.
Early on, Gill is happy with the progress his team made, and has set his expectations high.
“I thought we played well today overall. Our passing was good and our hitters did equally well,” he said. “We have to be better in our serving, but overall I am happy with where we are at. We’re deeper this year, which gives us more height and allows us to use many players on the court. It’s still too early to tell if we are more athletic than last year, but with 11 sophomores, we have a lot more experience across the board.”
The Chukars (2-0) head back out to Northern California Thursday and Friday, where they will face Southern Oregon, Butte and San Francisco Community Colleges.
