Volleyball team forms one month before school starts.
Devin Bradshaw
Two months ago, volleyball at Las Positas was just being conceived. Now two months later, volleyball is here and making a statement.They are ready to take their place as a respected program amongst Las Positas’ other top teams, and they are relying on their work ethic and natural chemistry to pull through.
They are off to a good start, in their first-ever home game they dominated the College of Alameda thoroughly. Winning a straight set (3-0) in front of a lively crowd.
This can be sort of a shock to outsiders looking in. How is a team that was just put together weeks ago, able to bond so quickly?
“It came together really last minute,” Coach Tracee Byrd said. “Some of these girls have only known each other for a week, week and a half, two weeks ago they were strangers. So I’m very proud of what they’re accomplishing.”
It was a rush from the beginning for the team. Everybody having to switch their schedules around to make practice. Having only a couple players in practice on certain days to people coming late was a challenge. To having to make sure everyone’s eligibility was taken care of takes a certain level of patience and focus. To have such great chemistry already, goes to show that this team may just be scratching the surface of what they can become.
The Hawks plan to continue to build their team building. Planning to use this season to set the standard for how the program should continue moving forward. Having great communication will be a key in having a successful season.
The team figures to rely on two key players this season, Setter Jessica Haley and Outside Hitter Taylor Cruz. They had a hand in seemingly every big play the Hawks put together.
“We’re really lucky she’s (Cruz) here and wanted to play for us,” Coach Byrd said. “ She’s got quite an arm out there, she’s very smart and can turn the ball in many ways and use different shots. Jessica our Setter, she’s one of the girls that came over from Chabot. Fell out of the sky for us, in the last week it was a blessing.”
Even though the program is in its first season. Byrd is wasting no time in helping Las Positas Volleyball put itself on the map. Though many teams may see them as underdogs they don’t view themselves that way. The Hawks believe they have the talent, work ethic and chemistry to put everything together year one and make some real noise as the newest team in the conference.
