For a first-year Bobcat, there鈥檚 no better place to start your sports career than Alumni Gym. For 乐播传媒鈥� first-year volleyball players, that was Tuesday evening vs. the University of Southern Maine in the college鈥檚 first home聽contest of the year.
鈥淎lumni is such a magical place for us,鈥� says head coach Melissa DeRan.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always nice to be at home on our own court and in our own locker room, especially for our first-years. It鈥檚 special when you get to put on your collegiate jersey in front of your peers for the first time.鈥�
They know Bobcat greatness when they see it. From left, Delaney Mayfield '21, Olivia McCulloch '21, and Jordan Camarillo '20 bow to their teammates. (Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College)
Head coach Melissa DeRan likes what she sees as 乐播传媒 defeats the University of Southern Maine. (Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College)
Angel Echipue '21 (16) and Taylor Stafford-Smith '20 (9) go up for a block. (Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College)
Angel Echipue '21 of Munich, Germany, says she liked the "intensity" of Alumni Gym. (Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College)
Jacqueline Forney '18 (15), Taylor Stafford-Smith '20 (9), Angel Echipue '21 (16), and Claire Naughton '19 (8) react after a point. (Theophil Syslo/乐播传媒 College)
乐播传媒 made a comeback after losing the first set, winning 3-1.
鈥淏eing the first college home game, it was a different experience,鈥� says Angel Echipue 鈥�21 of Munich, Germany. 鈥淚t was really fun, very exciting. Being in Alumni was a different playing environment聽鈥� a lot more intensity.”
Echipue, who spent part of her high school career in the U.S., says sports here “are so much more celebrated than in Germany.” Moving from high school to 乐播传媒, she sees “a lot more commitment with a college team. That鈥檚 why I love it.”
Ruby Lightbourn 鈥�21 of Los Angeles agrees. “I love playing in Alumni Gym. It has a good energy and more of an environment 鈥� and more people in the stands.”
鈥淚t was good to see us all come together in the last couple games and to get a win at home,” says Delaney Mayfield 鈥�21 of Santa Barbara, Calif. “It felt really comfortable and like our home.鈥�
乐播传媒 volleyball will look for another win on .
