The women’s volleyball team lost their match against Hartnell College Oct. 6, even though battling hard after a slow start and staying in the game using defense and blocking.

The team lost in five games, but still showed spirit and strength in their defense. The Trojans lost game one (25-30), game two (also 25-30), and game five (12-15) but battled back and fought hard for their wins in games three and four. The score of game three was 31-29 and game four finally ended up at 39-37.

The Trojans overcame their slow start and rallied back after being down two games to none. They managed to stay in the game using their strong defense to help them gain a win in game three. The women played hard causing them to wear out toward the end of the match and give up the last game.

Coach Jan Fosberg said it is a rebuilding year for the young team, due to the high number of freshman players this season. Still, Fosberg has high hopes for the women.

“There is nowhere to go but up,” Fosberg said. “Our greatest strength is our defense, we’re battling.”

Fosberg knows that there are strong teams in the league that will have the advantage over Skyline but that doesn’t mean she is counting them out. With some practice and continuing the great defensive play, more victories will come.

In the Hartnell match, freshman Reinalyn Duma had one of the strongest performances with 14 assists, 6 kills, and a team-leading 20 digs. Duma has collected the team’s highest kill percentage and in the game she also helped with outstanding setting, according to Fosberg.

Other strong players that night were Sarah Pele with eight kills, 16 assists, and four block assists; Haley Grossman with 11 kills and three solo blocks; Andi Almeida with six kills, two block assists, and two solo blocks; and Veronica Portillo with 19 digs. Ginger McElveen contributed with great passing.

The team has played in three games and two tournaments this season. In the San Jose City College tournament, the Trojans lost to Mendocino, Westhills, Shasta, and Sierra but beat Alameda and Hartnell. In the game on Sept. 22 against Cosumnes River College, the women lost in four games.

Next up for the Lady Trojans is a home game against Monterey Peninsula on Oct. 13 at College of San Mateo.