By Bruce Rolfe
Previous Climax-Scotts volleyball teams have worked hard, had good talent and certainly had the ambition to defeat volleyball powerhouse and rival Battle Creek St. Philip over the years.
However between bad breaks, St. Philip’s overall superior talent, spiraling confidence levels when results went the other way, or any other reason, C-S has met years of frustration against the Fighting Tigers since a win in 2000.
The streak includes 51 straight matches without a match win against the Tigers. The losing skid includes 35 straight match losses before C-S earned a split at the Harper Creek Tournament in 2016 (27-15, 16-25). That split was followed by 15 consecutive match losses.
The C-S win over St. Phil in 2000 was also the last time St. Phil has lost in the district tournaments.
Last year’s game one win in the district championship match ended a stretch of 36 straight individual game losses to the Tigers since C-S lost in four sets in a 2017 match.
There were 59 straight individual game losses since the Panthers won one set in a four game loss in 2006 to the 2016 match when the two teams split at the Harper Creek Tournament.
C-S coach Angela Gilbert feels this year’s team has the makeup and skill set to end the long streak when the two rivals clash October 7 at Battle Creek St. Philip at 7 p.m.
“They’re a team that works together. They fight for each other, they work for each other. We have all the skills to do what needs to be done. It’s just a matter of whole heartedly believing it mentally,” said the Lady Panther coach.
The losing skid includes eight losses in district championship matches, one loss in a regional championship match, six losses in a district semifinal match and a loss in the regional semifinals.
Because the entire team wasn’t even born the last time the Panthers defeated St. Phil in a match, the long losing streak isn’t talked about much. However this year’s team is well aware of the years of frustration.
“The streak of not winning in districts. It’s always never winning (against St. Phil), so it’s definitely something that has motivated us and pushed us. It’s the losing,” said C-S senior Sophie Braithwaite.
“It (a match win) would definitely mean a lot. It would be Heartwarming,” adds the Panther senior.
But recent losses to St. Phil are still fresh in the minds of the returners.
Last year’s loss to the Tigers in the district championship match (20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12) that went five games was very frustrating for the returners, especially the seniors.
“We always talk about St. Phil, how we should have won that match and how we could have won that match,” said Braithwaite.
Gilbert said because of the hard work the team has put in, it would be very satisfying if her team does defeat St. Phil in the upcoming match.
“I would love it for these girls. For their hard work and everything they put into the program for all these years. And it’s their senior year,” said the Lady Panther coach.
There’s also the possibility these two rivals could meet in the postseason, however this Lady Panther team would like to end the long losing streak October 7.
Previous Climax-Scotts volleyball teams have worked hard, had good talent and certainly had the ambition to defeat volleyball powerhouse and rival Battle Creek St. Philip over the years.
However between bad breaks, St. Philip’s overall superior talent, spiraling confidence levels when results went the other way, or any other reason, C-S has met years of frustration against the Fighting Tigers since a win in 2000.
The streak includes 51 straight matches without a match win against the Tigers. The losing skid includes 35 straight match losses before C-S earned a split at the Harper Creek Tournament in 2016 (27-15, 16-25). That split was followed by 15 consecutive match losses.
The C-S win over St. Phil in 2000 was also the last time St. Phil has lost in the district tournaments.
Last year’s game one win in the district championship match ended a stretch of 36 straight individual game losses to the Tigers since C-S lost in four sets in a 2017 match.
There were 59 straight individual game losses since the Panthers won one set in a four game loss in 2006 to the 2016 match when the two teams split at the Harper Creek Tournament.
C-S coach Angela Gilbert feels this year’s team has the makeup and skill set to end the long streak when the two rivals clash October 7 at Battle Creek St. Philip at 7 p.m.
“They’re a team that works together. They fight for each other, they work for each other. We have all the skills to do what needs to be done. It’s just a matter of whole heartedly believing it mentally,” said the Lady Panther coach.
The losing skid includes eight losses in district championship matches, one loss in a regional championship match, six losses in a district semifinal match and a loss in the regional semifinals.
Because the entire team wasn’t even born the last time the Panthers defeated St. Phil in a match, the long losing streak isn’t talked about much. However this year’s team is well aware of the years of frustration.
“The streak of not winning in districts. It’s always never winning (against St. Phil), so it’s definitely something that has motivated us and pushed us. It’s the losing,” said C-S senior Sophie Braithwaite.
“It (a match win) would definitely mean a lot. It would be Heartwarming,” adds the Panther senior.
But recent losses to St. Phil are still fresh in the minds of the returners.
Last year’s loss to the Tigers in the district championship match (20-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-12) that went five games was very frustrating for the returners, especially the seniors.
“We always talk about St. Phil, how we should have won that match and how we could have won that match,” said Braithwaite.
Gilbert said because of the hard work the team has put in, it would be very satisfying if her team does defeat St. Phil in the upcoming match.
“I would love it for these girls. For their hard work and everything they put into the program for all these years. And it’s their senior year,” said the Lady Panther coach.
There’s also the possibility these two rivals could meet in the postseason, however this Lady Panther team would like to end the long losing streak October 7.
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