SWC Middle Blocker, Tionna Jackson, and Setter Claudia Gagliano block LA Mission’s Claudia Moreno. LA Mission won the match 3-0. Photo by William Bird

Volleyball legend Jennifer Saleaumua-Taeatafa was hired to rebuild the college’s struggling program.

Struggles continue, but so does progress.

SWC picked up its second and third victories of a long, injury-plagued season by twice defeating Cuyamaca College.

“It felt good to finally win again,” said Taeatafa. “To be able to say that we beat a conference team twice in what has been a tough season. I’ll take it.”

A matchup against Grossmont, California’s #1-ranked team, started well and had the Lady Jags prowling the court thinking upset. It was not to be.

“We came out strong, but we couldn’t hold our energy,” said assistant coach Anthony Luongo.

Taeatafa said there was a lesson for members of the team.

“All sorts of emotions were going through them as they were playing,” she said. “I wanted them to just fight and play their hearts out. After seeing who the best was (Grossmont), they could set that standard on their work ethic at practice and how to get better individually.”

Youth and inexperience have hampered the Lady Jags, but injuries have been the biggest spike to the heart. Before the Grossmont match-up, Taeatafa was forced to sideline two key players, freshman middle blocker Hannah Eubanks and sophomore outside hitter Jill Alegre.

“Two days prior to our game against Grossmont, the trainers told me that Hannah and Jill were not cleared to play,” she said.

Youthfulness and spotty team chemistry are also issues, said the second-year coach.

“We have a couple of girls coming out of high school, which creates some chaos at practices,” she said.

Injuries to key players have forced Taeatafa to vary her lineup.

“We have a very small team,” she said. “With two players out we had to move everybody around and make adjustments to better our team.”

Eubanks has been injury prone following a pre-season quad mishap.

“Over summer we were doing sprints, all of a sudden my quads were on fire,” she said. “It was my left one that continued to hurt throughout summer and still irritates me now.”

During a match against Imperial Valley College, Eubanks injured her right arm. After the game, the trainers diagnosed her with bicep tendonitis.

“I’ve been going to the trainers every day, icing, stretching and lifting weights to strengthen it,” she said.

With Eubanks out, the team only has one solid middle blocker.

“Raven Alano was put in and she’s not a middle blocker, so key blocks weren’t there and it’s just really hard,” said Eubanks. “I think it’s important that I get healthy and not get injured any more.”

Taeatafa said the team needs to focus.

“The girls now have a better purpose for why they are here and why they like to play,” she said.

“Their mental attitude towards each other, towards the team and towards our opponent is going to be the difference to our improvement.”