On Thursday, Oct. 27, Sinclair faced the University of Findlay-JV in the regular season finale. The team dominated their opponent and won the game in straight sets 3-0.
The win caps off another winning season for head coach KC Gan. The team finished the season with a 17-15 record, which is remarkable because the team started out 1-10.
Gan credits the teams hard work and dedication and also having a bit of an easier schedule for the major turn around.
“When we started the season we played the three best teams in the conference during the tournament,” Gan said.
After the rough start to the 2011 season, the Tartan Pride went 16-6, which during that span included two winning streaks of six games and five games.
Overall in conference, the team finished 8-4, good enough for a third place finish.
Now, the Tartan Pride head to the National Junior College Athletic Association district E and F tournament in Grand Rapids Mich. and Gan says his team is ready for their last chance at competition this year.
“The team is very excited,” Gan said. “They are all ready and want to play good. At the last home game they played with emotion and excitement, so I believe they are ready.”
Their first game is against Jackson Community College on Nov. 4. Jackson is ranked number three in conference according to Gan.
“I know my team is one of the best teams in the region,” Gan said.
Athletic Director, Jack Giambrone said that he was happy with the coaching job that Gan has done this year.
“When you compare last year’s team to this years team, I think coach Gan got exactly what he was looking for, more maturity,” Giambrone said.
Being that Sinclair is a transitory college, the coaching staff only has two years with a group of players at a time. Therefore, the maturation of players may be one of the most elusive feats coaches at Sinclair can accomplish.
“They progressed well and we are very pleased and very excited about their draw in the tournament,” Giambrone said. “We’re excited to see how they play up in Michigan.”
Sophomore Abigail Schlater said that the team is going on a business trip and no one on the team is ready for the season to end and she hopes that it will provide the team with enough motivation to give them an edge against the competition.
But for Schlater this is going to be her final tournament as a Tartan Volleyball player and she says she will miss her teammates, coaches and all the fans that supported them throughout the season.
“I am definitely going to miss this place,”Schlater said. “From the fans to the administration, the support here is fantastic.”