BCC Titans Ready For Polk State Challenge
By Space Coast Daily // August 28, 2012
Cohesive Squad Expects To Win
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Coming off a weekend which saw it lose its first two matches, but then rebound to win its next two, the Brevard Community College Titans volleyball team faces a new challenge, a trip to Polk State College for a 7 p.m. match tonight.
Brevard is 2-2 after last weekend’s season-opening Florida State College Kick-off Tournament in Jacksonville. Tuesday night’s match is Polk’s season-opener.
BCC head coach Herb Tokumoto hopes to build on what he called a positive experience at the Jacksonville tournament.
“It helped the team see just how competitive they are and how quickly the pendulum can swing and the fact that no one comes to lose,” Tokumoto said. “The team had the opportunity to look at how we function and what we need to refine to continue to move forward. What I’m pleased about is the fact that our team does recognize that we all bring certain positives and negatives to the program and that we all need to work together for the common good of all.”
Tokumoto singled out two players for their efforts in the tournament. “Sara Watkins and Ashley Gonzalez really stepped up,” he said. “Sara really played some outstanding defense and dug up some great balls that kept us in competitive posture. Ashley was definitely a spark for us. She was a positive offensive force every time she stepped on the court.”
But that was then and this is now and Polk looms.
“Polk will be a challenge for us, they are always competitive,” Tokumoto said. “Coach German (Del Valle) is always on top of his game and ensures his team is also.
This match will challenge us as a team and as individuals to bring our best game to the court. “There’s always an unknown at the beginning of the season since the talent level is always changing. From our side we will always bring our best when we step on the court because we train to put our best effort forth every time.”
Brevard opened the weekend falling 14-25, 18-25, 22-25 to Lincoln Land College of Springfield, Ill. in its opening match and then 23-25, 22-25 and 14-25 to host FSCJ in Friday’s nightcap.
However it bounced back to win two four-set matches on Saturday, defeating Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist 20-25; 25-11; 25-19 and 25-20 and St. Johns River State College of Palatka 25-11, 25-22, 27-29 and 25-18.
BCC competes in the Florida College System Activities Association Southern Conference with Miami Dade College, Indian River State College, Palm Beach State and Broward College. Polk competes in the Suncoast Conference with St. Petersburg College, Hillsborough Community College, State College of Florida-Manatee and South Florida State College.
BCC’s first conference match is Sept. 4 at Palm Beach.
