A disconnected three sets followed a bright start by the Rio Hondo women’s volleyball team which lost to the Antelope Valley Marauders in four sets at the Rio Hondo Gymnasium.

In the first game of the season, the women’s volleyball squad seemed to be in control following a 25-17 win in the first game. With only three returners, the group of rookies seemed unphased in its first appearance.

With 85 percent of its players getting their first experience of community college volleyball, the Lady Roadrunners inexperience followed in the next three sets.

“We started strong and confident,” head coach Teddi Esko said, “And I think we got over-confident going into game two.”

Antelope Valley woke up and pushed back in the second set. Instead of responding, the Lady Roadrunners spent the rest of the match playing catch up. Rio would lose the next three sets 17-25, 14-25, 19-25.

The team lost momentum after losing the second game. Communication on the court dropped as mistakes started to pile.

“We are basically taking our bad plays and rolling it into the next one.” Esko said, “ We need to learn to mature as a team to not do that.”

It’s going to take time to get the kinks and nerves out for this young squad. Adaptation to the environment in the next level has become Esko’s assignment no. 1.