The Mesa College Women’s Volleyball team dropped another game on Oct. 17 losing in three sets to conference foe Palomar College.

This was the second loss of the season to Palomar, a team in which Mesa had not loss to in the previous four years.

Freshman star Joslin Alexander her second consecutive match due to an ankle sprain suffered in practice.

“My ankle is uncomfortable. It’s bruised and I feel sharp pains,” responded Alexander. “It has been very difficult for me to watch from the sideline rather than compete with my girls Right now I have therapy sessions with the trainers so I should be back soon,” she added.

Alexander was inactive the game before as well against Imperial Valley. This game concluded with the same results, a loss for Mesa. Alexander is expected back in action on Oct. 24 when the Olympians host Grossmont College.

With three games completed in conference play, Mesa is currently riding a two game losing streak with losses to Imperial Valley and No. 5 Palomar College.

“It’s tough because our coach and school had a good program before we came here,” said freshman Amber Davidson. “We feel we’ve let our coach down; we feel we’ve messed up her reputation as well as our schools.”

The mood of the team is low as players take responsibility while trying to come up with a solution to their problems.

“I need to be a leader,” said Davidson. “I’m on the floor all the time so my teammates are always watching me. I need to lead by example as well as vocally.”

For Head Coach Kim Lester, the problem is very much clear.

“The problem is ourselves,” replied Lester. “I still believe that this team has not bought into our system. They have conflicts with each other and it feels like there is no sense of pride.”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I believe in the team but they need to find the desire to be the best they can be. They need to put aside their differences and strive for a common goal, which is to give there all to this team. Stop placing blame on others and worry about themselves while doing their own job,” said Lester.

The lack of team continuity has continued and the inconsistencies have followed. At times they aren’t clicking or they’re carrying out their own agendas.

“Chemistry is a major problem for us,” expressed Davidson. “Majority of the time we’re not on the same page or we’re not playing together as a team. Right now we’ll just have to take it one practice at a time. We still have a shot to win the conference so our goal remains the same. Hopefully we can come together and make it happen,” she concluded.

With nine conferences games remaining, Mesa will have to turn it around if they have any hopes of winning the Pacific Coast Championship.

“It is a team goal to win this conference,” mentioned Lester. “We have nine matches remaining so it’s still in our reach, however we need to show up each and everyday and give everything we have in order to help this team. They can still do it if they come together and strive to achieve this goal together as a team.”

The Lady Olympians are ranked No. 8 in state with a record of 10-6 (2-2). With four wins over top 25 schools they will be in good shape if they can get back on the winning side of things.

Their season resumes on Oct. 24 at home against Grossmont. The match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. The Lady Olympians will then travel to Chula Vista to take on Southwestern College on Oct. 29. They will close out October at home against City College on Halloween as they continue their quest for a conference title.