The California Pintos volleyball team won all five sets in its match against the Capital City Cavaliers on June 23.
The Pintos jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead in the first set before adding to their lead to make it 16-5. The Pintos led by as many as 12 points as they started out strong in the first set. Capital City cut the lead down to nine points at 21-12, but California would go on to win four of the last eight points to take the set 25-16.
In the second set, the Pintos came back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 5-2 lead. The Pintos won five of the next six points to make it a 10-3 set. With the score at 13-5, California won 10 of the next 12 points to lead 23-7. Capital City made it a little closer at 24-10, but the Pintos comfortably won the second set 25-10.
Head coach Julie Bailey said the Pintos were having success with their serves in the first two sets. The team was also able to hit the ball in the holes in the Cavaliers' defense, she said.
"Our servers were pretty successful to start, and Capital City struggled a bit with serve receive," Bailey said. "We were also able to get the ball to our hitters, and they did a good job of finding holes in the defense."
The third set was much closer, as the teams traded points throughout. The Pintos led 10-8 before going on a 4-1 run to make it a 14-9 set score. Capital City tried to keep it close, as the Cavaliers got within three points at 15-12, but California won four points in a row to extend the lead to 19-12. With the score at 21-15, Capital City won three of the next five points to make it 23-18, but the Pintos held on to win the set 25-21.
Bailey said the team has to work on getting used to the new three-out-of-five set format, as players have started losing focus in the third set.
"In the third set, we have started a pattern of losing focus and not playing at our ability," Bailey said. "We are going to have to get used to the three-out-of-five format and prepare not only physically but mentally."
After a tight third set, the fourth was all California - the team jumped out to a 12-1 lead en route to a commanding 25-5 win.
Most of the fifth set was closer as the set was tied at 4-4 early on. California won six points in a row to take a 10-4 lead. California won the final abbreviated set 15-6 after winning five of the last six points.
During the summer, Bailey said the Pintos are focusing on improving as they go. She said this will be helped by plenty of activity throughout the month of July around California's dead week.
"In summer, we don't focus on winning as much as getting better and working out the kinks," Bailey said. "We still have a lot to do to get ready for the season, and I am excited to continue to prepare in July after our school's dead week. The week of July 6, we will have a camp and the varsity team will compete in a team camp at Branson. At the end of July, all three of our teams will compete in a team camp at Lincoln University in Jefferson City. The girls are a hard working bunch and will continue to lift every morning to be as prepared as possible for the upcoming fall season."