The Tartan Pride has won their six straight games and is beginning to hit full stride as the season hits the mid-way point.
As winners of six of their last seven games, the Tartan Pride’s confidence is extremely high leading into their game against Columbus State Community College on Wed, Sept. 28.
The volleyball teams is led by head coach K.C. Gan, who recently has hit a coaching milestone, with more than 200 career wins.
“Its definitely a milestone, I would have liked to reach that number in fewer years, but I think that for any coach it is an important milestone,” Gan said.
And according to coach Gan, the Tartan Pride has seen great team chemistry and improved play from their younger players.
The win in the game against Lorain Community College on Sept. 24 was the most dominating performance over a conference opponent this season. The team took all three sets, easily winning the game, according to Assistant Athletic Director Jeff Price.
The team also took home a clean victory this past Tuesday against UC-Clermont, winning 3-0.
The Tartan Pride stands at 8-10 (3-2) with 14 games remaining in the season including the NJCAA district E & F tournament.
Two of the team’s, players Brittney Stickleman and Abigail Schlater, have been named OCCAC Player of the Week for the weeks ending Sept. 11 and Sept. 25 respectively.
Stickleman credits the long car rides with her teammates for helping build team chemistry.
“We’re really starting to play like a team,” Stickleman said. “We’re starting to get really well.”
Stickleman has been recognized as a team leader by coach Gan. She is ranked second in the NJCAA for Digs in the nation. She averages 6.97 digs per set this season.
“It was exciting news, especially considering the rough start that we had at the beginning of the season,” Stickleman said. “ It definitely ranks in my top 10 accomplishments.”
Schlater says having a set lineup is one of the reasons the team is performing at a high level.
“Once coach Gan set the lineup, we’ve really started playing better because we know where our teammates will be and who will get to what.”
Schlater is ranked tenth in the NJCAA with 238 total kills, averaging 3.84 kills per set this season.
“I was really excited when I found out,” Schlater said. “I found out five minutes before the [Columbus State] game.”Gan emphasized the fact that Schlater was the team’s go-to option when the team needed a point.
“Abigail is very accurate and every time we need a kill she goes up and gets the kill for us,” Gan said.