Coyote Volleyball Prepares for 2024 Season
Eduardo Miranda
The Daily Independent
In its first season, the Cerro Coso volleyball program posted a 2-12-1 overall record and a 2-9-1 Inland Empire Conference record. The program's first win came in a five-set thriller on the road against Copper Mountain, and its first home win was in the conference finale against Copper Mountain with a sweep.
The Coyotes are entering their second season but first under new head coach Armando Gamez. He goes into his first season with a mix of returning and freshman players as the Coyotes look to improve upon last season. The Coyotes open the season with a scrimmage at East Los Angeles College on Saturday, Aug. 17, and then play a doubleheader against Santa Rosa and Taft at Taft College on Friday, Aug. 30.
"I'm excited to get our first game under way," Gamez said on opening up the season. "We are going to start off with our Alumni Match on the 23rd at 5:30 p.m. I think everyone is looking forward to that first game and first excitement so we can see all the hard work we have been putting in."
This season the Coyotes have two scrimmages and nine non-conference matches before 12 Inland Empire Conference matches. The Coyotes will play in the Reedley College tri-tournament and the Taft tri-tournament. Looking at the schedule, Gamez spoke on the games in non-conference and conference he is looking forward to playing.
"We are looking forward to matching against East Los Angeles College just because that is my old coach, and I really have added motivation to compete against my old coach and try to win that match," the Coyotes coach said. "Mt. San Jacinto has been one of the top competitors in our conference, and I'm looking forward to playing against them. I think it will be a good test to see where we are at."
Going into his first season, Gamez and his team have set a simple goal of finishing in the top two of their conference. He said his players are looking forward to achieving it and know it will not be easy and will take a lot of hard work from them and himself. But to achieve their main goal, the team has goals in place for the non-conference and conference portion of their schedule.
"During conference play I want to see us work together as a team and fight through all adversity and remain within the team chemistry," Gamez said on their conference goals. "And try to work together to overcome challenges. I think that will show a lot about who we are and how we are able to push through different challenges.
"In our preseason games, I'm looking forward to seeing the skills that they have been developing here over the summer and really trying to see if they are able to build upon game to game from one preseason game to another. How they are able to develop quickly and get up to speed and be where we need to be in order to be prepared for conference play."
Gamez said the team is excited and has a lot of momentum going into the season.
"And I think the whole town as well is excited to see we are going to have a team competing and familiar faces not only on the team but in the coaching staff as well," he said. "I think everyone is excited on the team and in the community."
The Coyotes open the season at the Taft tri-tournament facing Santa Rosa and Taft on Friday, Aug. 30. They play their first home match against Allan Hancock College on Friday, Sept. 6, at 5 p.m.