Boys Varsity Volleyball Consolation Game

Eagle firepower subdues Knights

By Sung Eun Song
International School

Christian Learning boys varsity volleyball team triumphed over the Cambridge Knights through excellent team work and skilled techniques.  Christian Learning boys won both sets by wide margins, 25-14 in the first set and 25-10 in the second, assuring them of third place in varsity boys volleyball in 2010. The game was played in International gym Monday.

 From the beginning of the first set the Eagles dominated play with their three outstanding players -- Jesse Hallock, Conroy Janzen and Caleb Ropp taking turns scoring points.  Hallock, a captain of Eagles, capitalized on the great opportunities afforded him by artful set-ups and never missed them. He was highly skilled at spotting empty spots of the Cambridge side, and spiking accurately to them.

 Janzen was another outstanding spiker. He jumped right in front of the net and spiked the ball emphatically, which reminded one of boxer Muhammad Ali's phrase "to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." 

. Ropp was a great server whose serves were so strong that few Knights were able to return them. He jumped up tom launch his serves, and that extra height and m momentum seemed to make them unblockable. 

  There were few standouts on the Cambridge side.  The only player who could put the ball away for the Knights was Francis Subirana, but it was too much for him to try to counter the Eagles' well-organized team play by himself. Furthermore, the Knights gave several points to the Eagles by being in the wrong position, which showed a lack of concentration and less organized teamwork. The Eagles won the opening set 25-13.

 And from there it just got worse for the Knights, who ceased to put up much of a fight. Play became sloppy with many of the points be decided on the serve, with either the Knights missing or the Eagles hitting unreturnable ones.     

  In short order -- about 14 minutes -- the set and match were over.

 However, there was one breathtaking moment performed by the Cambridge boys. One of the Eagles hit the ball hard and the ball slipped off to the Cambridge side touching the net. The ball was almost going to hit the ground for a sure Eagle point, but Subirana, in a desperation play, kept the ball alive by kicking it high. It came down on the opposite side of the Cambridge court, where Alvaro Lopez set the ball up to Michael Duera in the middle.  Dueri hit a slashing cross-court return gaining the point for the Knights, and winning an admiring round of sustained applause from supports of both teams. 

  However, that was the last big play for the Knights, and the set ended 25-10, giving the Eagles the third place title in boys volleyball.