Women's volleyball struggles out of bye » Soured return Davie Wong Sports Reporter F° some teams, breaks provide the overworked athletes with time off to rest up, but byes can also ruin rhythm and pace. Unfortunately for the Royals, this was of the latter case. Going into the break off a o-2 weekend, the team had looked like they were finding their rhythm, despite the losses. Coming back the team immediately faced off against VIU, one of the best squads in the league. The games started on Friday evening as VIU came into the Royals court looking to solidify their position at the top of the PACWEST table with two wins. The hosts didn’t make it easy for them. It was a hard first set to start the series that defined it. VIU got ahead early and the Royals were left to play catch up. The first set barely went to VIU as the Royals almost orchestrated a comeback. This effort was reciprocated by the team in the next set, and this time they were able to take the : set away from the grasp of VIU. : Strong play from captain Juliana : Penner gave the Royals the push : they needed to take the second : set. Sadly, that was all they were : able to take, as VIU stormed : back in the third to take the lead. : They rode that momentum into : the fourth and were able to close : out the game strongly. Their play : denied the Royals much of an : opportunity to come back. That trend continued onto Saturday. The Mariners : dominated in the opening two : sets. However, all was not lost as : the Royals roared back to life in : the third. They were able to take : the next two sets to bring the game toa tie. Their efforts ultimately : fell flat as VIU opened the : final set with a 4-point streak. : Coming back looked seemingly : impossible. That statement : proved true as the Mariners : closed out the rest of the set well : to win the game. While disappointed in the : team’s record as of late (0-4), : coach Kyra Iannone believed : that there was more to it than just wins and losses. “Our last : four games have been against the : best teams in PACWEST. It’s just : the way our season folded out. : We knew it would be hard but : it is what it is and we just have : to keep on learning and push on : through.’With this weekend in : the books, the Royals sit directly : in the middle of the PACWEST : standings at 5-5. Four points : separate them from the second Photos by Davie Wong : and third place teams while 4 : points separates them from the : fifth place team. Next week, the : women look to pick up a pair : of wins against Columbia Bible : College Bearcats. End of season reflections » Women’s soccer breakdown with Chris Laxton Davie Wong Sports Reporter t has been an eventful year for Chris Laxton and his team. Their successes this year included holding the best regular season one of their players take home the conference MVP award, win- ning the provincial playoffs, and attending the national tourna- ment and claiming fourth. The Other Press had a chance to sit down and talk with Laxton about the year. How did you feel about your team’s performance at Nationals this year? I thought we showed our- selves very well. The best team was the best team but the next three positions could’ve been interchangeable. We're disap- pointed that we didn’t bring back medals but considering the scale of everything, we're happy with the way we performed. I think we represented the college and PACWEST well. It’s the first time that your team has made the national contest; how does that feel? Making Nationals was a great moment for myself and the team, especially for the players that have been around for 3-5 years. of-the-table team in PACWEST : to being a National contender. : It was also a good chance for the first- and second-year players to : see that the amount of work the : veteran players put into the sport : : pays off. If there’s a positive to not : : winning anything, itthatthose — : record in their conference, having : : hungry to go back. first and second years are now What are your thoughts on : the season as a whole? I thought the season as a : whole was very positive. We were : up against a lot of challenges and : we rose up to meet them. We had : many wonderful performances : from many players. It was great : season, Were there any doubts : about the outcome of this sea- : son? I think we [the team] all ex- pected to end the year at Nation- : als. Once we got to Provincials I ? sawa very calm and contained : group—a group that knew what : was ahead of them ahead of : them. What are your thoughts on : making history with the team : this year? It was exciting. It was some- : thing we spoke of last year but : we didn’t quite get there. Last year was about making history, : but this year was about leaving a : legacy. We have a banner to hang Together, we went from a bottom- : : to put in the trophy case. somewhere and we have a trophy When I got to Douglas Col- : lege, the first thing I noticed was : the trophy case. There was not : much to show for the women’s : soccer team. So our goal was to : begin the process of filling it up. : Do you think you can con- : tinuing filling that trophy case : in the coming year? I think we can. The first- and second-year players had great role : allowed 10 goals in the entire models. It will be a challenge for : sure but I think with the belief : that we can do it and hard work, ? we can continue to build our tro- : phy collection. What were some key : points to your season? We scored lots and we kept : the ball out of our net. Our goal : at the beginning of the season : was to score at least two goals a game; we did that. We only Photo by Davie Wong > season. Any final comments? I just want to take a mo- : ment to thank the students and : athletes that have supported us : throughout our season. When we : were in Peterborough (Nationals’ : location), we would check our : phones before and after the game : and be bombarded with all the : positive support. It really went a : long way, so thank you.