Cabrillo Slips, Doesn't Fall Vs. De Anza In Home Opener

by Julie Jag, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Aptos >> The Cabrillo College women's volleyball team on the floor for the Seahawks' home opener Wednesday bore almost no connection to the squads that won the California Community College Athletic Association State championship in 2013 and reached the final last season. Only four players, out of 18, on Cabrillo's roster participated in that success and just one was a starter.

Still, it was a little stunning when, for about 20 minutes, opponent De Anza held the upper hand over the Seahawks, considering the Dons hadn't beaten Cabrillo since Gabby Houston-Neville took over as coach in 2009.

After dropping the third set in a 25-13, 25-10, 20-25, 25-9 victory, however, the players returned to vintage Cabrillo form to claim the Coast Conference crossover match victory.

"I thought for Games 1 and 2, we were playing really well. We were playing good, clean volleyball and we were pretty error free," said Houston-Neville, who added she was never concerned her team would lose the match. "I wanted to get other players some playing time and, well, right now we're just hit and miss."

The starting seven made swift work of De Anza. Setter Eden Fukushima, a freshman out of Benicia, made 24 assists and practically served the Dons off the floor in Game 2, when she racked up four of her five aces. Middle Patrice Williams, a Harbor High product, added four blocks and five kills and libero Alyssa Nelson, a freshman out of Hoover High in Fresno, led the team with 13 digs.

The real standout, though, was Scotts Valley High alum Amber Bothman, who hit .900 by notching a team-high nine kills on 10 attacks with no errors.

"I've been thinking about this all week, actually since we had a tournament in Sacramento and we didn't play our best," Bothman said. "I wanted to just come kill it — and you never want to lose on your home floor."

Bothman said the same issue that nearly derailed Cabrillo during two matches at American River in Sacramento, in which the Seahawks swept Porterville before needing five sets to beat their host, reared its head against De Anza.

"It's hard, because we get within our heads a lot," she said, noting that the players sometimes get caught up in a downward spiral of poor play and can't pull themselves out of it.

"I don't know why we do that," she added. "But we've been working hard on it. I think we'll get it soon."

Houston-Neville is hoping so. She'd especially like to see her squad adjust before Cabrillo hosts Foothill and Feather River on Oct. 3. Foothill handed the Seahawks (6-1) their only loss this season and is the top-ranked CCCAA NorCal team. Cabrillo dropped from No. 1 to No. 3, behind Fresno City, with the loss.

The Seahawks have a pair of matches this weekend in which to make the adjustment. They host College of the Sequoias at 1 p.m. and Sacramento City at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Cabrillo can take heart in that it isn't the only team dealing with confidence and consistency issues. Dons coach Dawnis Guevara said her players are facing similar problems. Of course, she thought Wednesday's match would only help that.

"I think that was a confidence booster," she said. "That part is good, to know that we can play with a team like that."

Amelya Vu led De Anza (1-8) with 10 kills, while Kaileigh Otsuka made 15 digs.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/20150923/cabrillo-womens-volleyball-slips-doesnt-fall-vs-de-anza-in-home-opener

photo by Dan Coyro, Santa Cruz Sentinel