Cougar Volleyball Enjoys Scrimmage against Benedictine-Mesa

PHOENIX --- 

The South Mountain Community College women's volleyball team returned to the court for the first time in nearly two years with a scrimmage against Benedictine University-Mesa Friday morning. One of two preseason tune-ups for the squad, SMCC got the chance to square off against an opponent after several weeks of practice and training. 

Head coach Melissa Hess, who enters her third year in charge in 2021, was impressed by her team's competitiveness and spirit in their first season performance.

"We are still in the process phase of our development, so we are not focused on the result today, and our girls bought into that idea," said Hess. "Today allowed the coaches and players to see how much they have already improved. Our squad is a very scrappy, competitive, young group, and we are excited to see the continued development and success of this talented group of girls."

The team features six sophomores and nine freshmen. Five of those sophomores competed in the 2021 beach volleyball season. However, Friday was the team's first indoor match, albeit a scrimmage, due to the coronavirus pandemic, since Nov. 1, 2019.

The Cougars host Park University-Mesa in a scrimmage at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 17. The match will be streamed live here.

SMCC officially opens the season on Friday, Aug. 20 with a contest against Navarro College in Roswell, N.M., on the New Mexico Military Institute campus. At the Bronco Classic, the Cougars will also face Vernon College, Tyler Junior College and Salt Lake CC in New Mexico.