Fighting Through Pain to Keep the Streak Alive

By Lucas Weiss | Staff Writer

Setter Jaylynn Fierro, number 15, points at one of her teammates during a match between the Santa Monica College (SMC) and San Diego Miramar Women's Volleyball team at the SMC gymnasium, Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 08, 2023. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Team members of Santa Monica College (SMC) Women's Volleyball gather around their coach, Christian Cammayo, right, during a match against San Diego Miramar at the SMC gymnasium, Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 08, 2023. They are gathered around to discuss strategies against their opponents as they are behind in points. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Women's Volleyball team celebrates as they won a point, bringing their score to 18-14, during a match against San Diego Miramar at the SMC gymnasium, Santa Monica, Calif. Sept. 08, 2023.

Setter Mia Paulson, number 12, center, of Santa Monica College (SMC) Women's Volleyball, hits the ball, performing an attack while number 19 of San Diego Miramar tries to block it at the SMC gymnasium, Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 08, 2023. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Coach Christian Cammayo of Santa Monica College Women's Volleyball smiles as his team wins another point against San Diego Miramar, bringing the score to 23-16 at the SMC gymnasium, Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 08, 2023. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Setter Mia Paulson, number 12, performs an overhead pass to set up an attack for outside hitter Maiella Riva, number 1, during the match between Santa Monica College (SMC) and San Diego Miramar Women's Volleyball team at the SMC gymnasium, Santa Monica, Calif. on Sept. 08, 2023. (Danniel Sumarkho | The Corsair)

Coming off of a two-game win streak, the Corsairs’ women’s volleyball team was ready for the San Diego Miramar College Jets on Friday. The Corsairs stumbled at the beginning of the first set, going down 6-4 before eventually tying it up and taking the lead 14-11. The lead change forced the Jets to call a timeout in an effort to halt the momentum. However, the Corsairs continued their excellent play and won the set 25-18.

The second set started off extremely tight, with both teams fighting for any edge they could find. Halfway through, the score was tied at 12. From there, the Corsairs took over, going on an 11-3 run before the Jets were forced to call another timeout. It proved semi-effective and they went on a small 3-1 run of their own before the Corsairs scored the last two points, winning the set 25-18 once again.

The last set went much the same as the first two, with the Corsairs winning 25-16 and winning the game.“We’ve actually been managing a lot of injuries,” said Head Coach Christian Cammayo. “So we’re really just trying to flow as a team.”

“Last year, we ended up number one in the state in blocks and aces, total aces. And obviously, it’s a different group now, but these are the things that we value. And so we’re trying to get back to where we were … If we’re good in our processes, we will get better and better… and then we’ll get the outcomes we want,” said Cammayo.

The head coach is focused on improving the team, getting them back to the same level they were previously, and remaining as one of the top teams in the Western State Conference.

Part of that responsibility falls on outside hitter Madison Schweitzer. Like other team members, she had recently gotten back from an injury, an ACL tear in her case. “It’s been hard,” Schweitzer answered after being asked what it meant to come back to the sport she loved.

“It’s definitely a long journey. I think I was out for around sixteen months,” said Schweitzer. “This is my second month back, but it’s been really good. I’m honestly just happy to be playing again. So I’m ready to work to get back to where I was.” An injury like the one she sustained is almost always season-ending and can end careers.