College of the Athletics – From left to right, CR’s Ella Day, Lily LaRue and Zoe Zerlang.

The Corsairs were missing one of their best players for their Golden Valley Conference opener in volleyball on Friday afternoon, and it showed.

With sophomore Zoe Zerlang sidelined through injury, the College of the Redwoods women lost at Butte, falling in three sets.

The Corsairs lost 25-20, 25-20, 25-22.

Without the experienced Zerlang, who is the team’s only returning player this season, head coach Petra Lorenzi had to switch some things up.

“We lost our leader of the court, but we had some people come through and step up,” she said.

Maile Kapahu had a good game and finished with 12 digs and five aces, as did Perla Ceballos, who had 17 digs and three aces.

The team defense was once again a strength, as it has been for much of the season.

“Our defense really kept us in the game,” Lorenzi said.

Things won’t get any easier for the Corsairs when they play perennial conference power Feather River at CR on Wednesday at 6 p.m.