BADGER SPLIT 8 CONTESTS AT CSI OUTBACK INVITATIONAL

by Tyler Hughes
Snow College goes 4-4 in pre-season tournament

This past weekend the Snow College volleyball team played its first tournament at the Outback CSI Invitational in Twin Falls, Idaho. 

The Badgers went 4-4 losing three of those matches in the third and deciding game.  They fell to Southern Idaho and Northwestern by just two points and lost by three points to the Cardinals of North Idaho. 

Coach Les Calles, now in his 11th year with the Badgers saw good things from his squad and was optimistic for his team’s chances in 2008.  “The match against Salt Lake proved that we are just a dig, a pass and a kill away from being 8-0,” said Calles.

Throughout the weekend, Coach Calles saw multiple individual performances by his team that led to solid overall play for the Badgers.  Sophomore, Lenora Nauahi, was able to get the Badgers on the attack along with freshman Rachel Glassford as the team’s top setters.  Samantha Schofield was able to perform well in the middle and Nina Blake was very sharp with her passing.  Blake continued to get better throughout the tournament for the Badgers.

Outside hitters, Melody Peleaz, Tatum Porter and McZeen Ale all saw game action with the team’s first rotation while Fuiva Hola battled through an injury and performed well in each match.  Larissa Fish was productive for Snow along the right-side and is in a tough competition with some of the Badgers young freshmen.

Coach Calles pointed to the leadership of team captain Jhordan Te’o as what set the standard for the Badgers from this past weekend.  “She is competing for the starting Libero spot and when I asked her who should start she basically said ‘whatever you feel is best for the team.’ That was refreshing and I think that her attitude helped us this past weekend but will also be great for us moving forward.”

Calles feels confident heading into the weekend based on his team’s performance this past weekend. “I am sure that after last weekend's showing no one will be looking past us,” said Calles.

The Badgers will be in action again this weekend when they participate in the Crystal Inn Invitational hosted by the number six ranked team in the country in the latest NJCAA poll, Salt Lake Community College.  Each match will be best two of three games with the action beginning on Friday and carrying through Saturday.