By Dannielle Lowe
Get your purple pride shirts together and bring your cheering voice. It's basketball time.
As the majority of students fled for fall break last week, two teams officially began their seasons: men's and women's basketball. Both groups hit the courts for their first practices.
The men officially kicked off the 2007-08 season on Oct. 12 with a two-hour, 45-minute practice session. Head coach Eric Reveno led the team in defensive drills and an intense scrimmage.
The team returns only two starters, senior Sherrard Watson and sophomore Taishi Ito. Watson will be the lone senior leading the men this year. Returning juniors Marcus Carter and Walter Thompson will also provide upperclassmen leadership.
Six freshmen will join the Pilot roster this season, along with transfer Nik Ravio.
Pre-season opens next Wednesday with a home game against Western Oregon. The regular season begins Nov. 9 when the team travels to the World Vision Classic in Fresno, Calif., with scheduled games against Fresno State, San Diego State and Liberty. Following the tournament is a season packed with tough games, including the official season home opener against Oregon on Nov. 17.
The men welcome the challenge and eagerly anticipate the first game.
The women's team returns the bulk of its roster with 12 veterans, including four starters.
The Pilots hit the court for the first time on Oct. 12. According to senior Rachel Warren, practice went exceptionally well.
"We just finished double days and they went well," Warren said. "We're much farther ahead this year. There is a tenacity and intensity that has never been here before."
The Pilots added three freshmen to the roster this season. According to the veterans, the freshmen are doing an amazing job learning team principles and fitting in well.
Also returning this season is sophomore Laiken Dollente. Last season, Dollente scored in the doubles figures more than 20 times, winning All-Freshmen Team and All WCC honors.
The goal for the women's team this season is to go out and get as many wins as possible.
"Everyone's wiling to work hard and believe. We want to see our hard work pay off," junior Allison Sievers said. "Practices are going well. On the court we're a team and we all get along really well."
Last year the Pilots endured some tough losses, finishing with an overall record of 10 wins and 33 losses. But Sievers said the women have put that behind them and are focused on success this season.
The season schedule contains some tough competition and opens Nov. 9 with a road trip north where the women will play Washington State University followed by subsequent trips to Idaho on Nov. 11 and Arizona on Nov. 16.
The WCC is filled with strong programs such as Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine and Santa Clara, but the women are taking it one game at a time.
The first home game will be Nov. 18 against Utah State. The women are excited about the season ahead and are enjoying the journey. As for right now, the players are focused on adapting to their lives being run by basketball.
"Pretty much our lives consist of eating, sleeping and basketball," Warren said.
