The Voice - Student Newspaper

Determined volleyball team has high hopes for new season

By Warren Brannoch
Freelance Reporter, The VOICE

Glendale Community College (GCC) volleyball head coach Lisa Stuck is excited the new season is underway.

She is entering her twelfth season in Glendale.

Stuck led her Lady Gaucho's to a 17-1 conference record and a 23-7 overall record last season.

Stuck admitted "Our conference is very tough, and very talented, but I look forward to the tournaments during the year because of the variety of teams that we get to play."

After a heartbreaking loss in the regional semifi nals last season, Stuck's goal for this season is to get over the hump, make it to the regional finals, and have an opportunity to go to the national tournament in November. This season the Gaucho's have a very young team, with 10 freshmen on the roster, including Jessica Youngberg, who was a class 5A-division honorable mention selection at Centennial High School.

There are only three returning players from last season, which includes sophomore captain Leah Bradley, who was a 2008 all-conference selection.

Bradley's goal for this season is also to make it to nationals.

The season-opener was on Aug. 28 against Mesa Community College, where GCC emerged victoriously, 25-13, 25-14, and 25-16 in three straight sets.

On Sept. 2, the ladies defeated South Mountain Community College, 25-21, 25-16, and 25-20.

The team traveled to Prescott for the Yavapai Tournament on Sept. 4-5. The Lady Gaucho's finished the competition seventh overall.

GCC volleyball is ranked 14th in the first National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) poll of the season.

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