T

he Biddeford volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday evening when visiting Cape Elizabeth rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take down the Tigers in five sets.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Tigers are off to a strong start to the 2017 campaign — and are looking to make some noise when the playoffs roll around.

“I think we’ll be fine. I think this was a good learning experience and I’m glad it happened early in the season so we can work on that and improve where we need to improve. Sometimes it’s kind of hard to learn from games where you’re (winning) 3-0,” said Biddeford coach Chantel Tourigny, who saw her team sweep Cheverus and Greely to open the season. “I think it’s easy for the girls to see if you don’t execute these certain little things, it will snow ball. You can’t win a game against a good team if you’re not executing your plays.”

Grace Martin, who is one of seven juniors on the squad, believes the Tigers (2-1) will learn from Tuesday’s loss.

“We just have to pick up the intensity. We came out strong but didn’t finish well, but we’ll be better tomorrow, we’ll work on it in practice and get better,” said Martin.

Tourigny knows that Martin and the large junior class will be key to the Tigers’ success this season.

“The leadership is definitely coming from the junior class for sure. They are the majority of our team so they are the one class where we certainly couldn’t do it without them,” Tourigny said.

Lexi Matteau believes the bond the junior class — which also includes Grace Boisvert, Sydney Gagne, Chantel Perreault, Brooke Reissfelder and Olivia Whittaker — has formed will help them be successful.

“I think it’s definitely a core group for the team. We are all very tight and we play well together,” said Matteau, who feels that bond has helped the Tigers get off to a strong start. “I think just how we are very close and we don’t get upset with each other, so just being good teammates.”

It’s not just the juniors on the Biddeford squad that have become close as Martin was quick to call her teammates some of her “best friends.”

“We hang out on the weekends and these are some of my best friends,” said Martin.

Both Martin and Matteau have lofty goals for the rest of this season.

“Obviously, states,” said Martin of the team’s goals. 

“Our goal is to win states obviously, but Deering and Scarborough are hard games and our goal is to definitely beat them,” added Matteau.

Tourigny believes her team has the talent and work ethic to compete with the best in Class A.

“I mean Cape is a Class B team and there’s a lot of talent in Class B, I think for Class A we are definitely top echelon for there,” said Tourigny.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

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