El Camino beach volleyball kicks off season with back-to-back wins

Warriors+player+Diana+Enriquez+dives+for+the+ball+during+a+match+against+Riverside+City+College+on+Friday%2C+Jan.+27.+Enriquez+and+partner+Emily+Uhrinak+won+their+set+against+the+Tigers+%2821-8%2C+21-12%29+and+later+against+Mt.+San+Jacinto+College+%2821-12%2C+21-12%29.+%28Ethan+Cohen+%7C+The+Union%29

Warriors player Diana Enriquez dives for the ball during a match against Riverside City College on Friday, Jan. 27. Enriquez and partner Emily Uhrinak won their set against the Tigers (21-8, 21-12) and later against Mt. San Jacinto College (21-12, 21-12). (Ethan Cohen | The Union)

In its first two matches of the season, Warriors beach volleyball took to the sand at the El Camino Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27, to a new slate of duos.

Taking home a pair of (5-0) wins against Riverside City College and Mt. San Jacinto College, the Warriors swept past both Tigers and Eagles duos as players new and old get a feeling for what’s to come ahead.

“Pretty much all the way down the line we have some new people,” coach LeValley Pattison said after the match. “Our returners are much more experienced and [with] the addition of a couple of transfers… we have some big shoes to fill.”

Tigers player Paris Toaetolu (13) block an attempted spike by Warriors player Athina Sarreas (6) at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Sarreas and partner Sophia Ortiz beat Riverside City College (21-9,21-11). (Ethan Cohen | The Union)
Tigers player Paris Toaetolu (13) blocks an attempted spike by Warriors player Athina Sarreas (6) at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Sarreas and partner Sophia Ortiz beat Riverside City College (21-9,21-11). (Ethan Cohen | The Union)

The match began with a strong showing from the Warriors, who quickly took the lead with their cohesive playstyle as calls were ringing throughout the courts. The Riverside Tigers, however, were not to be underestimated as the court three duos forced the match into a third set that was ultimately won by the Warriors.

Going into the first match Ginia Goods, 21, had her foot on the break, playing at a conservative pace which was the cause of the ceded second set to the Tigers.

“[Court three] is definitely the court where there is not too much pressure but just enough,” Goods said.

Warriors player Ginia Goods (8) spikes a ball over Tigers player Nina Peay at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Goods said that she tries to minimize errors and not let the other team get in her head. (Ethan Cohen | The Union)
Warriors player Ginia Goods (8) spikes a ball over Tigers player Nina Peay at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Goods said that she tries to minimize errors and not let the other team get in her head. (Ethan Cohen | The Union)

A veteran of El Camino’s beach volleyball program, Goods explained this was her first match playing with a new partner, Bridget Dorr, who “works really well” at communicating and going for the ball.

“You have to build a connection and I feel like Bridget and I already have that going in so early [in the season],” Goods said.

Leafa Juarez (left) and Francheska Aguilar (right) celebrate a point against Mt. San Jacinto during a match at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Juarez and Aguilar beat the Eagles (21-10, 21-16) on the number two court. (Ethan Cohen | The Union)

Coach Liz Hazell told The Union after the wins that the season opener was a “really good showing” for the beach volleyball program but there still may be room for some tweaks as the start of the season progresses.

“It’s not always just about the volleyball, it’s about the chemistry too when there’s only two of you out there,” Hazell said. “If someone’s struggling they’ve got to be able to work through it.”

Last year, the Warriors had a near-perfect season posting a 22-win streak that was broken at the cusp of the state championship title at Irvine Valley College. Hazell hopes to bring back that same level of play throughout the season.

Warriors player Emily Uhrinak (left) jumps to block a spike from Eagles player Alicia Vasquez (center) during a match at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Uhrinak spent the summer and fall training in order to compete on a higher level this season. (Ethan Cohen | The Union)
Warriors player Emily Uhrinak (left) jumps to block a spike from Eagles player Alicia Vasquez (center) during a match at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 27. Uhrinak spent the summer and fall training in order to compete on a higher level this season. (Ethan Cohen | The Union)

“We have a good mixture of returning people and new people,” Hazell said. “[The team has] good energy and have been practicing hard, so hopefully, good things to come.”

Despite the changes in the roster, court one duo Emily Uhrinak and Diana Enriquez are shaping up to become a lethal force on the sand sweeping both Riverside City College (21-8, 21-12) and Mt. San Jacinto College (21-12, 21-12) with ease.

“We’ve been training really hard over the summer and fall to get to that level to be able to compete,” Uhrinak said. “We just want to play our best game and stay focused.”

Going forward Uhrinak hopes to “give every game [her] all” and further build chemistry with Enriquez on the court.

Warriors players Emily Uhrinak and Diana Enriquez hug after the end of their two matches against Riverside City College and Mt. San Jacinto at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 21. Uhrinak said her and Diana are best friends which play to their chemistry on the court. (Ethan Cohen | The Union).
Warriors players Emily Uhrinak and Diana Enriquez hug after the end of their two matches against Riverside City College and Mt. San Jacinto at the ECC Sand Courts on Friday, Jan. 21. Uhrinak said her and Diana are best friends which plays to their chemistry on the court. (Ethan Cohen | The Union).

“Diana and I are best friends,” Uhrinak said.

The Warriors return to the El Camino College Sand Courts on Friday, Feb. 3, as they host Santa Monica College and Moorpark College with the first matchup beginning at 10 a.m.