After initiating what looked to be a promising season with an on-road win against South Florida Community College, the Cerritos College volleyball team instead spiraled downward to now missing the playoffs.

The Falcons had to overcome several challenges this season, such as replacing last season’s star outside hitter Sarah Naranjo who transferred to Cal State Long Beach, having 10 of its 15 active players be freshmen and setter Lupe Garcia tearing her ACL and missing the majority of the season.

Head coach Teresa Velasquez-Ortega believes part of the team’s success has been the ability to recruit dynamic players year after year.

“It started with Sarah [Naranjo] then Chanelle [Puou] and now we have Jessika [Suesoff],” she said.”

It is really important to have good players because we can build the team around them.”

While this season didn’t pan out how they wanted to, next season looks promising as the team’s all-around player, Suesoff, returns, along with Garcia and several other key starters.

Suesoff described how next year she will try to have a more optimistic approach.

“I want to be more positive next season. I’m not really used to losing, so when we started losing this season, I didn’t know how to handle it,” she said.

Suesoff consistently gave the Falcons a boost as she ranked second on the team in kills, attempts and assists and ranked third in blocks and digs.

She was heavily praised by head coach Teresa Velasquez-Ortega all season for her ability to play all over the court.

“It is a really good thing [for coaches to compliment me] because I’ve always had respect from coaches, but it is different now because it’s a college coach,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting much but I turned out to be a better player,”.

Velasquez-Ortega expressed her sadness about how some of her players are leaving.

“It is sad to see the girls leave every year,” she said. “I wish we could have them longer but that’s just how it is.”

She says she will remember this group because of how responsible it is and how hard the women work.

“This group of [women] practiced really hard and played really hard. They remind me a lot of last year’s team.”

One of the biggest difficulties that the team had to face was having to play all of its home matches at Gahr High School due to the construction being done to the Cerritos College Aviary Gym.

“We really needed a home gym this season,” assistant coach Gay Castaneda said. “It’s just not the same playing [at Gahr].

Suesoff added, “I think we would have had more student support if our games were at Cerritos.”

The team struggled on many occasions this season having gone on four losing streaks of two or more games.

While the majority of the roster will be returning, the Falcons will be missing key players such as star outside hitter Puou and role players, right-side hitter Johanna Tope and defensive specialist Hannah Johnson.

Puou suffered a foot injury early in the season but returned and became the focal point of the offense. She led the team in kills with 170 and attempts with 580.

The Falcons (9-11, 5-8) hope to end their season on a high note as they play their final game of the season on Wednesday at Gahr against LA Harbor College.

Velasquez-Ortega says a big reason that the Falcons did not make the playoffs was because they lost their South Coast Conference opener against East Los Angeles College.

“It was our first home game and our first conference game so it was a little rough,” she said.

While the playoffs are out of the question, the players are still focused and determined on closing the season strong.

“I can’t speak for everyone else but when I’m on the court, it is the same mindset,” Suesoff said. “Whether I’m winning or losing, I always play hard.”