Despite playing its best match of the season behind setter Daniel Rodrick’s great play, the Warriors lost to the Long Beach City College Vikings Friday 3-0.

Rodrick led the Warriors (5-9, 1-6) with 79 sets and 31 assists, which kept the match against the South Coast Conference leading Vikings(11-1, 5-0) competitive, but EC ended up losing the games by scores of 29-31, 26-30 and 28-30.

“Everyone played well, each game we made some bad plays and (those plays) cost us the match,” Rodrick said.

The Warriors improved their play from their previous meeting with the Vikings, where they lost in straight sets 22-30, 24-30 and 21-30.

Friday, the Warriors led each game late but were not able to finish against the Vikings, who won its eighth straight game with its victory over EC.

“We got to twenty-two (out of thirty) points in each game before (Long Beach) but they got better as the games went on and we were not able to get the crucial point,” coach Dick Blount said.

Although the loss to Long Beach was the sixth straight for the Warriors, the entire team played well, which was refreshing for Blount to see.

“I thought our energy was great,” Blount said.

“Our guys had a great week of practice and their heads were in the game, but we just fell a couple plays short,” Blount said.

The players shared coach Blount’s enthusiasm for the improved play of the team, who played well because they had nothing to lose Rodrick said.

“We played great, it’s just that (Long Beach) is so well rounded and we didn’t have the necessities to beat them,” middle blocker Chad Given, who led the Warriors with nine blocks, said.

The Warriors have been eliminated from playoff contention but are encouraged by Friday’s play to finish the season strong.

“If we play like we did against Long Beach City College the rest of the year, we’ll have a great finish,” Rodrick said.

The Warriors’ first chance to finish the season strong was yesterday at home against L.A. Pierce.

Scores were not available for that game at press time.

The Warriors have two conference games remaining on their schedule, one tomorrow at Moorpark and the other Wednesday against Santa Monica. The Warriors will also face the Alumni next Friday at 6 p.m.