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Tyler Junior College Apache Athletics
TJC sweeps TVCC
TJC sweeps TVCC
Posted: Sep 13, 2012

TJC sweeps TVCC

Article Courtesy of Vanessa Curry, Tyler Morning Telegraph
It took two hard-fought games for the Tyler Junior College Apache Ladies to build enough momentum, but by the third they cruised, sealing a 3-0 win against Trinity Valley Community College on Wednesday.

The win (25-19, 25-13, 25-10) gave the volleyball team its second conference victory on a day TJC dropped in the NJCAA poll from first to seventh.

Coach Ronda Shirley said the ups and downs in the polls can be expected and shouldn't affect how the team plays.
"Three years ago we would have given anything to be getting votes," she said. "What really matters is how we stand at the end of the season."
TVCC's Lady Cardinals also received votes this week, earning a No. 21 ranking - a first for the 3-year-old program, coach Natosha Spain said.
She was obviously disappointed in her team's performance on Wednesday night.
"We knew it was going to be tough," she said. "We just didn't do what we needed to do."
The Lady Cardinals kept pace with TJC during Game 1, making the Apache Ladies work long and hard for nearly every point with a combination of good blocks and kills.

The Apache Ladies took control of Game 2 from the beginning, taking advantage of TVCC serving errors and giving their offense a change to put together a six-point scoring spree at one point in the game.

Hannah Robey, a freshman from Longview, made a surprising save during that spree, a dig that had the crowd on its feet.

The Lady Cardinals only managed a few more points before the Apache Ladies finished the game with a serve from Jordan McArdle that hit the top of the net and barely flipped over the edge for an ace serve.

By the time Game 3 rolled around, no amount of talking from Spain could motivate the TVCC team.

TJC kept the pressure on racking up a 7-0 lead to start the game and ending it by allowing TVCC only 10 total points.

Shirley said she believes her players were more relaxed Wednesday night and better prepared.

"We played some better defense than we've been, put down some blocks, digging up some big balls, helping us win some long rallies," she said. "I think that just added to their confidence."
Shirley said the team has been working on "mixing things up," so as to not "be so predictable."

The Apache Ladies (14-1, 2-0) are scheduled to play in the San Jacinto College tournament this weekend.

Smoke Signals: Blair Russell, a freshman volleyball player from Marysville, Kan., revealed another talent to fans on Wednesday night by singing the national anthem to start the match.
Tyler 3, Trinity Valley 0

TVCC 19 13 10

TJC 25 25 25

KILLS LEADERS - TJC: I. Bulajic, 8; J. Santos, 9; J. McArdle, 7; L. Jones, 8.

DIGS LEADERS - TJC: H. Robey, 12; Jones, 9.

ASSISTS LEADERS - TJC: A. Amaro, 28.

BLOCKS LEADERS - TJC: Amaro, 3; Santos, 3; S. Llamas, 5.

ACES LEADERS - TJC: Roeby, 4.

RECORDS - TJC 14-1 (2-0)

NEXT UP - TJC in San Jacinto Tournament.