Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos from the match, and hear post-game comments from Norse Coach Dan Porath.
ESCANABA---For most of the season, the Bay College Norse volleyball team has enjoyed good success on its home court. The Norse won six of their first seven matches inside the Bay College Gym, fueled by the crazy student section's constant noise.
But the Norse have fallen on hard times, both at home and on the road, and the team hit rock bottom Wednesday night with a 3-1 loss to the previously-winless Alpena Community College Lumberjacks.
The Norse won the first set in dominating fashion, 25-16, but then lost the next three in a row, 25-12, 25-23, and 25-21. It was Bay's third straight loss at home, and it was the sixth straight loss for the team overall.
And it happened on the team's Volley For A Cure Night, which drew an even larger crowd than usual to the stands as money was raised for a local breast cancer survivor.
“We struggled all night,” Bay College Coach Dan Porath said. “It was Pink-Out Night tonight, so it's too bad we couldn't get a win for all the fans. We just didn't perform. It's been a struggle for us lately. It's just a matter of confidence right now. Even if you're playing against a team you should beat, if you're not playing confident, you're gonna struggle.”
Bay had already defeated Alpena twice this season, including a rather easy 3-0 win in Alpena on Sept. 13. But Wednesday night, after the Norse won that first set, they could never get consistent play for long stretches.
“The first set, we were passing well and our offense was good,” Porath said. “But after that, we kind of played scared a little bit.”
There was one period on Amber Caylor's serve in the third set when the Norse scored nine straight points, but could not seal the deal. And in the fourth set, Bay rallied to get back in it, but gave up six of the last eight points to suffer the home loss.
“They dug the ball well,” Porath said of Alpena, which had lost all 15 of its matches this season, but now improves to 1-15 overall and 1-9 in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association standings. “We had some nice hits but the ball just didn't go down, and our girls just weren't ready when it came back over.”
Bay fell to 10-15 overall, and 3-8 in league play headed to Montcalm Community College for a match next Tuesday. They'll close the season on Oct. 21 at Gogebic Community College.
