The Men’s Volleyball team (3-2 pre-season), was defeated last Friday by Irvine Valley College.

It marked EC’s second loss during the preseason.

The game ended 3-1 in favor of Irvine, however the scoreboard doesn’t paint the picture of how EC could have won a couple of games if not for a few mistakes.

“Game one we’re cruising, we were up most of the way,” coach Richard Blount said. “We could have won in four, but it’s just the reverse.”

Set one was fought closely, but EC ultimately lost 25-23.

“We blew them out in game two,” Blount said. “Game three, we let down.”

According to Blount, the Warriors did not have their best night when it came to passing, which was part of the reason they to lost.

Both EC and Irvine struggled; in the end however, Irvine committed less mistakes and defeated the Warriors.

“In both losses we’ve had, we’ve just been sloppy,” assistant coach Kurt Peters said.

Peters says that the most important thing they need to focus on is passing and serves, which is what hurt the team.

Despite the Warriors having two outside hitters with good nights, Irvine seemed to have better luck.

“They seemed to miss less serves,” freshman Brandon Healey said. “We had a couple of serves that we missed and they seemed to have missed just a few less.”

Sophomore Karl Acres contributed by saying that what prevented them from winning were the errors they committed, and the home court advantage Irvine had seemed to give them an edge.

Despite Friday’s loss, the Warriors remain resilient and positive, and are now preparing ahead of the two remaining preseason games that still remain.

“We had this really relaxed sense of play,” Healey said. “Before we’ve been on edge and a little too focused, this time we were a little relaxed, and that was good.”

Next week EC will open the season Conference against LA Pierce and the players are making progress to have a great season.

“We can beat any team,” Acres said. “We’re not afraid of any team, but controlling our errors and controlling our side of the court will definitely help us in the long run.”