Wednesday was Sophomore Night at Guitteau Gymnasium for the Eastern Arizona College volleyball team and a “Dig Pink” night to raise money for breast cancer research.

Big events and celebrations, however, can cause distractions. The Monsters didn’t play their best but battled for a 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22) win over South Mountain.

It was the 16th straight win for EAC (20-1, 13-0), which played at home for just the fifth (and final) time of the regular season.

From left, Marci King, Ami Baldwin and Kalia Yasak encourage each other between points at Guitteau Gymnasium on Wednesday night during a 3-1 win over South Mountain. Photo by Brian Wright

“We haven’t been home in a month, and the whole Sophomore Night — my girls were emotionally a mess,” Monsters coach Shari Kay said.

Coaches from Oregon State and UTEP were also in attendance to watch EAC (particularly Dreanne Shaw), and Eastern’s players knew it. Pressure to perform well in front of those coaches may have contributed to the Monsters’ shaky play.

Eastern was pushed by a South Mountain team that never relented.

Former Bowie/San Simon standout Brandi Rourke is one of the Cougars’ best players, and she energized her team with solid hitting.

Kay described her team’s play as “timid,” and it took some big blocks by middle Marci King to fire up the Monsters and make a statement to the Cougars.

The blocks came late in close sets and was the difference for Eastern winning those sets.

“She’s been doing such a good job offensively for us (but) not so much tonight,” Kay said of King.

“But she did have (blocks) at key times that were big. I think it really brought (South Mountain) down a notch or two, and they were afraid to swing after that.”

Sophomore setter Kalia Yasak, who ranks fifth in the NJCAA in assists per game (10.5), sees a big difference in this year’s team versus last year.

Yasak said the sophomores have become leaders and added that the girls enjoy playing together.

It was hard for her to explain why the Monsters struggled Wednesday night.

“We get nervous when such a big crowd comes and supports us, so we try to get them into the game, but I don’t know what happened tonight,” Yasak said.

“I guess it was nerves and Sophomore Night, and we hadn’t had a home game for a very long time.”

The Monsters will host a region playoff game Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. against either Yavapai or Arizona Western.

Last year, EAC won the region title but lost to Salt Lake Community College in the district championship.

EAC beat Salt Lake 3-2 in Scottsdale on Sept. 11. The Monsters are confident they can advance one step farther this year and reach the NJCAA National Tournament.

“I think we have a team that can go to nationals and do very well,” Yasak said.

If EAC plays to the level it’s capable of in the postseason, anything is possible.