The Pioneer, Vol. 52 Issue 1

Campus
RAIDER VOLLEYBALL
RULES COURT
Offense delivers quick attacks while defense holds strong
By MARJI HARRIS
Staff Writer
IT IS A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, and
a fresh start for Raider athletics. Sept. 4
was their first preseason home game and
the sets gave a glimpse of what the season
could be like. From the start of the first
game against the Shoreline Community
College Dolphins, the Raiders showed they
came intending to win.
The Raiders owned the court in the first
and second games. The Dolphins tried
attack after attack, only to be met by a
strong Raider defense and the offense was
relentless. The second game was the most
brutal, ending 13-4.
The third game started differently. The
Dolphins fought hard to go home with at
least one win. However, the offense struggled
to come together and the defense did
not fare much better. Once they can focus
their power and strength, they will be a
force to be reckoned with in the regular
season.
Outside hitter No. 16 Ryleigh Burdik is
part of the competitive team spirit. Last
November she helped take the team to the
Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).
At the end of the season she ranked No. 3
with 389 kills and No. 2 in attacks at 1,167.
If the preseason games are any indication,
there is a good chance that she will
finish her year at Pierce with another high
ranking.
Another strong returning player is No.
1 Kenzi Seitz, defensive specialist. An
NWAC All-Star in 2017, she was also part
of the team that won the west division in
the NWAC and played in the championship
tournament. She ranked No. 2 in
spikes last year and this year it is likely that
she could hold the same rank.
The next game set was against Skagit
Valley College and the Raiders showed
no signs of backing down. The Fighting
Cardinals fought hard, but could not find
enough holes in the Raider defense. The
first game was the closest, ending 25-20.
At the end of the third game, the Raiders
finished another set with nothing but wins.
Saturday, Sept. 8 against the Lower Columbia
River Hawks was more of the same,
with the Raiders again taking over the
court. For the eighth time they sent a team
home without even one win.
The regular season starts Sept. 21 with
the first game at TCC. The first home
game, Back To School night, is Sept. 26
against Green River. Students get in free
with student I.D., non-students are $5.
2018 Raider volleyball women are team-focused on another tournament goal.
Marji Harris/Staff Photos
12 / piercepioneernews.com
September 24, 2018 / Vol. 52, Issue 1