The volleyball team (2-14 overall, 2-7 in the Bay Valley Conference) held close in every set, but errors kept the team from controlling momentum as the Comets battled hard but eventually lost in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) to Mendocino College Friday in the Gymnasium.
Mendocino (4-8 overall, 4-5 in the BVC) took complete advantage of the Comets staggering 16 errors in the first set of play.
“We gave them a lot of points (in the first set),” Comet setter Kimberly Calip said.
Contra Costa College was only down 18-15 in the first set, but would end up yielding almost every point to Mendocino for the rest of the set. Many of the points were on hit errors that would sail out of bounds or hit the net.
This was the volleyball team’s second meeting against the Eagles this season. In the first game, Mendocino barely edged out the Comets in a close conference match 3-2 in September.
CCC’s next chance at a win will be tonight against third place College of Marin at 6 p.m. in the Gymnasium.
This will be the second matchup between the two teams for the year. Marin won the first meeting 3-0.
Against Mendocino, right side hitter Victoria Matue said the team really wanted revenge for that September loss and was confident going into the game.
“They improved over the whole month that we didn’t play against each other,” she said. “We improved too, but I feel like we just didn’t show it this game.”
CCC coach Christy Tianaro said the team watched film and prepared for Mendocino, but the errors and other factors hindered the team from executing the game plan successfully.
More errors in the third set saw the Comets faced with a 22-16 deficit. The adversity forced the team into its best run of the game and the potential start of a comeback.
“They (CCC) played much, much better (in the third set). I was happy with how they played,” Tianaro said.
The energized stretch of play saw the team make it a compelling 24-23 affair, but the game ended on well-placed, mid-range floater by a Mendocino player.
The score completed the set and season sweep for the Eagles.
Middle hitter Erin Hale and outside hitter Christina Wilson both led the charge on offense for the victorious Mendocino.
Both players finished with seven kills each to lead their team.
The Comets will play their next three game on the road. They will be in search of their third win of the season against College of Marin on Wednesday at 6 p.m.