Cougars devour Scots in 5 sets

Entering the game with a four-game losing streak, the Scots looked to turn their season around with another win against the Half Moon Bay Cougars, this time in Cougar territory. 

The strong Cougar showing, a result of their annual “dig pink” game, caused the Scots to unravel late in the match, losing the fourth and fifth sets after leading two sets to one in the best-of-five match.  

In the loss, Chianti Raddavero, a senior and number 14 for the Scots, proved why she is one of the team’s captains, posting standout numbers in nearly all stat categories, including aces, kills, and digs, in addition to her leadership on the court. 

The Scots’ chemistry looked on point in the first set, with on-court communication playing a key role in their early dominance. Half Moon Bay, on the other hand, could not find their rhythm early in the match, losing points due to miscommunication, poor ball placement, and a slew of easily-avoidable mistakes.

In the following sets, the roles reversed, with Carlmont unable to get momentum going their way. The home crowd, stomping on the bleachers throughout the entire match, did not help the Scots in their come-from-behind endeavors.

Players and coaches agree that the team has all the talent it needs, they just lack mental toughness late in the sets. 

“Volleyball is such a mental game. If we can stay smart and do the little things right, we can win any game,” Raddavero said. 

This loss of momentum was fatal to the Scots, who have lost their last five games in the fifth tiebreaker set. 

“Momentum is huge. Lately, we haven’t been able to shift momentum fast enough, and we kind of get caught in low points for too much of the game, and that’s part of why we’ve been losing,” said varsity assistant coach and JV head coach Sergio Smirnoff.

On a more positive note, a welcome addition on the court for the Scots was senior Georgia Brewster, in her fifth game back after an early season injury.

“It feels great to be back on the court. The team is so supportive and if we can stay focused late in the games we got it in the bag,” Brewster said.

On a team stacked with talented and experienced players, while the little plays and the mental game have held them back recently, there is still time for the Lady Scots to finish their season strong and leave their mark on the volleyball program.

Article published: Oct. 14, 2022