By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.–  The Chemeketa Community College Volleyball team just keeps finding ways to win ball games after a tough start to the season.  But following their sweep of Umpqua Wednesday night, their second sweep with the squad picking up their fourth-win of the hear and improves to 3-2 in NWAC South Region play.

It’s the mindset they’ve grown around of just having fun and just staying cool, calm and collected while out on the court as they picked up their first two set wins over the Riverhawks of Southern Oregon in front of a good-size crowd at the Storm Center in Salem.  Creating even more of a high-energy environment for Chemeketa going into Friday’s game with Clark.

“We’re just having fun.  We’re relaxing out there and we’re being calm,” starts Salem Academy’s Bailey Pedersen.  “It’s always celebrating and it’s always being happy.  It’s so much better, you shag a ball and you shake it it off, it’s so much better when you’re having fun.”

“What has really helped us is our energy and just everyone just playing for each other and no one playing for themselves.  We’re one big family and it makes a difference playing for each other,” adds Central Linn’s Josie Nealon

But when it was time to settle in and focus, the Storm did just that.  Down 16-13 to UCC, the Storm rallied back and turned a three-point deficit into a 24-19 lead as they closed out their fourth victory of the season and looking for another win Friday against a Penguin team that’s 9-7 overall and 3-2 in league play.

And it goes back to their idenity of working together and hard work with Chemeketa looking to continue their winning ways when they serve it up at 6pm on Friday night at home.

“Just working together, hyping each other up and knowing that we can beat anyone if we put our minds to it,” Nealon said.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald