With nothing left to play for except its own pride, the men’s volleyball team lived up to its college’s name by beating L.A. Pierce for the first time in five years, putting a positive ending on an otherwise disappointing season.
“We have been in these types of matches all season and have just not been able to pull out a victory,” said coach Le Valley Pattison. “Tonight luck finally turned in our favor.”
Pierce had Warriors’ number
Pierce is the four-time defending state champion and has had the Warriors’ number for over five years. This year, Pierce is in second place behind Long Beach City and both teams are favorites to win state.
“Beating Pierce is a really good way for the sophomores on the team to go out,” Pattison said. “Also, this victory shows our freshman how hard they have to work to get better and be able to compete in our tough conference.”
Victory pumps up crowd
Like they have done all season, the Warriors went five games with Pierce, but this time the Warriors pulled out a victory, 30-27, 30-25, 30-19, 30-22, 15-12, in an exciting match played before a raucous crowd in EC’s South Gym.
“It was nice to see the crowd so excited,” sophomore Logan Johnson said.
The Warriors received tremendous efforts from their sophomores, who played as if this was the last match of their lives by diving for balls, encouraging their teammates and engaging their opponents in verbal taunts in order to earn a victory.
“That was a heated match. I think at first they thought it was going to be a cakewalk,” said Johnson. “But after they felt our intensity they played a little bit more aggressive and were talking an awful lot of trash.”
“This was the most exciting and fulfilling match I have been involved in the two years I have been at El Camino,” Sean Barnes said. “We finally shut up their big mouths.”
Johnson & Curran led the way
Logan Johnson and Rob Curran were instrumental as they have been all season. Johnson had 23 assists, 14 kills and six blocks in a very impressive effort. Curran had 23 kills and eight blocks and was the rock all season for the Warriors.
The Warriors will be losing four players: Barnes, Curran, Johnson and team captain Chris Teguh. All were greeted with a standing ovation from fans who stuck around for 30 minutes after the match to show their appreciation for all their hard work and dedication.
“The four sophomores on the team have been excellent players, students and all-around good guys,” Pattison said. “I’m going to miss having them around, but I know that they are going to go on and do good things in life because of the attitude and work ethic of these young men.”
