Cougars win with sweep

In game one of the Columbia College volleyball team’s 30-18, 30-26, 30-23 sweep of McKendree College, sophomore setter Luana Branco was upset with a teammate’s mental mistake and playfully grabbed her by the throat.

Branco would never actually harm a teammate and in this instance, she was not even very upset.

“If that happens against MoBap (No. 6 Missouri Baptist), I would be more pissed,” Branco said.

Throughout the game, and the season, Branco has been a vocal presence on the court. She will not hesitate to get on a teammate after a mistake.

“She really expects a lot out of her teammates and, as a coach, I love that,” Cougars coach Melinda Wrye-Washington said. “Sometimes Luana can get really on top of them and it frustrates that player. She has to learn the fine line; she has to be aggressive with them but she needs to convince them and help them to do better if they’re struggling.”

When she is playing volleyball, Branco is very competitive but she has a more relaxed demeanor away from the game.

“Off the court, I’m okay,” Branco said. “I can scream at you on the court, but after the game I am laughing with you.”

Branco’s competitive spirit is not limited to games. In the Cougars’ last practice, she was arguing with Wrye-Washington over points when the two were playing against each other.

“I play in practice and it gets pretty heated,” Wrye-Washington said. “From what I remember, we were screaming at each other. We get pretty fired up in practices. She’s competitive and a lot of the girls are and I like that.”

While Wrye-Washington enjoys seeing the competitive fire Branco has on the court, she said Branco has to learn to have more tact at certain times with some of the younger players.

“She needs to learn the other half of being aggressive, the coddling, nursing those younger players along, and when they do get frustrated, not letting them lose their confidence,” said Wrye-Washington.

As the setter, Branco says she has to be the team leader out on the court. As a leader, Branco says she must learn to control her emotions better.

“Sometimes I’m just too pissed and I can’t control myself and I have to stop and think and breathe,” Branco said. “I don’t think I’m very calm and I think the leader has to be very calm (most of the time).”