The ball is held by an opposing player. Once the whistle blows for the go-ahead, the player throws it up and serves a massive spin.

An El Camino defender receives it and pops it up. The setter runs toward the ball and sets it up masterfully, while an EC attacker smashes the ball in between defenders.

The Warriors huddle up in excitement as they gain a point.

It all started with the pass and ended with the spike, but it went to the setter’s hands halfway through.

The setter on the court, the leader that every play usually goes through is sophomore setter for the men’s volleyball team Chris Griebenow.

“I started out young,” he said. “I’m still lacking in defense, but I’m working.”

The 21 year old has been an important addition to this year’s men’s volleyball team.

He ended the season leading in overall assists in the Western State Conference with 423, is the leading setter in the WSC with 666 overall assists and he led assists per set in the WSC with an average of 10.58.

Coach Richard Blount sees Griebenow as an improvement to previous players on his team.

“He’s taller (than our last guy),” Blount said. “The block is better, and the numbers don’t lie. He’s great.”

Blount compared Griebenow’s job to one of the focal positions in baseball.

“He’s like the pitcher of a baseball team,” Blount added. “He does a lot of the work in-game but he gets more of the blame if we lose.”

Captain and sophomore outside hitter, Casey Wood, had a similar comparison of Griebenow.

“He has a huge job,” Wood said. “He’s like a quarterback, and he does a great job of executing like one.”

Wood and Griebenow have coached for the SCVC Quicksilver team together and have a special connection.

Wood is the coach and Griebenow is the assistant coach of the young volleyball team.

“He’s a great leader,” Wood said. “He has a high volleyball IQ.”

“We click on and off the court, so it’s easy to get along with him,” Wood added.

Griebenow’s mother, Tina, said there were a number of reasons why he’s so “great.”

“His dad played at UCLA,” she said. “(Griebenow’s) been playing since he was 8, it was mostly his father’s decision.”

Tina Griebenow feels wonderful being able to watch him play.“It’s always nice when your child doesn’t come (off the floor),” she said.

Griebenow wants to be a high school chemistry teacher when he finishes his studies.

“I love helping people improve,” he said. “It’s what really makes my love for coaching. Seeing the progress of people is great.”