One month into the season, the McCurdy volleyball team has already recorded more wins than in their last two seasons combined.
“It’s a good feeling, a confidence booster,” said setter and outside hitter Paola Gonzales.
McCurdy has now won four matches; they won two matches a year ago and just one in 2021. They have already matched their winningest season out of the last five before even reaching district play.
The Bobcats (4-7) swept Coronado (1-8) in three sets at home on Thursday, continuing a strong start to their season.
But coach Maxine Martinez said she was not too concerned with the wins and losses.
“I’m not really looking a whole lot, as far as winning and losing,” she said. “Hopefully we can get better and get things going. Just improve, is what I’m hoping for.”
Against Coronado, Kaylee Martinez led the Bobcats with 11 aces in the match, along with 14 assists and one kill. Mariana Arambula contributed 11 kills and six aces of McCurdy’s 29 total.
“Our team this year, we’re all really close, we all get along,” said libero Elisa Noches. “You can definitely feel it on the court too, the energy change.”
The Leopards are led by eighth-grade setter Melody Chacon, who highlights the young team that is growing for the future under coach Monique Garcia. The Coronado roster includes just two seniors and one junior, along with two sophomores, four freshman and a pair of eighth-graders.
McCurdy took a lead in the first set at 15-6 after winning seven straight points, and held on to that to win 25-14. In the second set, they quickly went up 5-1, and then led 12-6; it was 23-12 after winning eight straight points, and they won the set 25-13.
In the third set, McCurdy scored seven straight points on their first service run, and held that lead the rest of the way. Though Coronado came back with a run, forcing a McCurdy timeout for the first time in the match, Arambula led the Bobcats to six straight points to win the final set 25-17.
“We were just having fun,” Gonzales said. “If we have fun, we do good.”
Before the match, the McCurdy middle school team beat Coronado’s 25-10, 25-14.
McCurdy next plays on Oct. 10 against Mesa Vista. The Leopards face Cuba on Oct. 3.
Heading into district play, McCurdy is hoping to improve their consistency while they should be much more competitive in District 5.
“I’m just hoping we can keep putting, keep executing,” Maxine Martinez said. “Keep getting some good sets and hits. And hopefully we can get some more improvement, keep getting better.”