Being competitive has not been an issue for the Warriors. Adding to the win column though, is another story. The team battled back late but lost its 3 matches at Grossmont last Wednesday, in their final game of the preseason.
The Warriors finished the preseason with a record of 1-6. The regular season for the team begins tomorrow, when they go up against Santa Barbara City College at El Camino. Game begins at 6 p.m.
“I want us to succeed,” Dick Blount, coach, said. Blount added he plans on making the team “mentally stronger.”
With 10 freshmen players and only 2 sophomores making up the team, Troy Gravett, 20, one of the sophomores, made the most out of the opportunity.
Switching from his usual position at right side to middle blocker, Gravett spiked 7 balls and made 3 digs. “I didn’t play too good,” Gravett said. He added he will need to play a lot better at his new position in the regular season to help the team win some games.
“We all have to have confidence in each other and work on gaining more team chemistry,” Gravett said.
With the regular season starting tomorrow against Santa Barbara City, coach Blount is focused on fixing the team’s attitude, leadership, and unity while following the philosophy that “every (team) is beatable.”
Coach Blount challenged the team at practice, asking them if they individually make the team better as a whole and even criticized his own leadership, giving himself a failing grade. “My failures bother me more than anything”, Blount said. “We all have to do better.”
Blount said all of the players should work on improving their skills. He told them to go running, to go play on the beach and to work harder during weight training and practice.
With 10 freshmen making up the majority of the team, coach Blount also puts his focus on the team’s academics and pushes the team on getting every scholarship El Camino offers. He also tries to ensure the team’s success after graduation.
“Our stats aren’t perfect, but they’re pretty damn great”, Blount said.
While maintaining a serious yet fun environment for the team, coach Blount is now working more than ever to make sure the regular season is one the college will be proud of. He also hopes to build his team into a group of successful Warriors.
“I wouldn’t trade my kids for anyone.”