College of Marin opened Bay Valley Conference play against Napa Valley College on Friday. Both teams entered play with winless records. Napa Valley started their season winless in four games while Marin failed to find the correct side of the ledger in their first seven matches.
Despite the records, both teams played impeccably in the first set. College of Marin jumped out to a 10-4 lead forcing a quick timeout from Napa. They tied the game up at 11 each and the rest of the set neither team led by more than three points at any time. The set was tied at 24, 26 and 28 before Napa Valley grabbed the first set by a 30-28 score.
The second set equally as nail-biting, as the lead swung back and forth before Napa went on a late run to win 25-20. Despite the loss of the first two sets, the Mariners never hung their heads keeping the third set close until the end which Napa took 25-19.
Although Napa swept the match 3-0, the Mariners played some of their best volleyball of the season. Employing a libero for the first time on the year Freshman Jenya Nicol turned in a solid defensive performance. The Marin blocking duo of Ashley Mellor and Jenny Huezo denied several Napa attacks while Janea Early and Tate Dobbins led the Marin offense.
The College of Marin continues conference play with a home game against Yuba College on Wednesday, September 23rd.
Video of the match is available here.