On March 12, in the Wayne Rickman Gymnasium, the boys volleyball team defeated University High School (0-3) in three sets for their first win of the season, improving their record to 1-2.
In the first set, Karl Schaefer began the match serving. The boys had a narrow lead early on. After Schaefer assisted Daniel Hermida for a kill, it brought the score to 8-7. Schaefer registered 18 assists for the night and Hermida had eight kills. Both teams were neck and neck until junior Blake Garrison tipped the ball for a kill, bringing the score to 21-19, and starting a 4:1 point run for the Braves. Garrison led the team’s defense with seven digs. Nicholas Duffy served the set-winning ace to secure the first set victory, 25-20.
The boys began the second set down 4-6, until they earned a side-out and Jason Hock served three aces in a row making the score 8-6, also forcing University to call a time out. Hock had five total aces. Effective serve receive and powerful kills from sophomore Dominick Orlando extended the Braves’ lead to 20-15. A University net violation on Boone’s game point ended the game 25-18.
In the third set, Duffy set up Schaefer who registered a kill to bring the score to 7-10. Soon after, the boys began their comeback and tied the score 14-14 after Hock hit through a double block. Garrison took advantage of an overpass from University, hitting the ball in front of their 10-foot line in an amazing attack. Late in the set, the score was 23-23 until junior Cameron Sexton and Garrison double blocked a University outside hitter, bringing the score to 24-23. The Braves won the final set 25-23.