By Rick Assad
One set was an absolute classic and the other two were very good and when the nonleague boys’ volleyball match was concluded, Burroughs took the nod over Claremont on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bears’ 31-29, 25-17, 25-19 victory was set in motion behind the powerful hitting of outside hitter Ian Duffield, who had 16 kills and middle blocker Skyy Alston, who added six spikes with two aces and two blocks.
Between the two, they were a lot to handle but they made their presence known from the very outset.
Joel Brinton is the longtime Bears’ head coach and was also pleased that his club was challenged in that first game.
“That first set was really good for us. We got to experience some adversity and then see us perform at a high level when we needed to,” he said. “You try to create those repetitions at practice but it’s impossible to. So, it was nice to get that experience.”
Brinton added: “I’m proud of the team for ignoring some questionable calls and persevering and finding a way,” he stated.
While the Bears took the match, it wasn’t an easy time as the Wolfpack battled at every turn to make it competitive.
The initial set was knotted at 25-25 on a hitting error by outside hitter Gavin Etterbeek of the Bears (1-0).
Burroughs pulled ahead 29-28 on Duffield’s kill and led 30-29 on a winner from middle blocker Jack Szaras.
Duffield’s bullet sealed the first set and added a bit of relief, and it coincidentally also carried some momentum over to the next set.
The first game began with Szaras adding a block to make it 4-4 and a push from Etterbeck made it 11-8 in favor of the hosts.
A tapper from Alston increased the margin to 14-10 and it became 15-11 on a kill from Duffield.
A winner from Alston made it 19-18 and Duffield’s tapper saw the Bears march ahead 22-20 as the Wolfpack (0-1) asked for a time out.
When Duffield unloaded a spike the Bears led 23-22 but the Wolfpack rallied and led 24-23 on a kill from Anderson Van-Travis.
Duffield’s push evened it at 24-24 and Etterbeck’s dagger made it 25-24 in favor of the Bears.
The next set was deadlocked at 3-3 but the Bears pulled ahead 6-3 on a kill from opposite hitter/middle blocker Marco Santiago-Dorn (five kills).
A tapper from setter Riley Brinton (26 assists) made it 14-11 and Brinton’s winner increased the margin to 16-13.
Duffield contributed a push that made it 17-13 as another stoppage in play was requested by Claremont.
Duffield wasn’t done as he added a kill to make it 18-13 and a service ace from Duffield saw the lead extended to 21-15.
Duffield’s spike made it 23-16 and Santiago-Dorn’s rocket capped the game and a two sets to none lead.
The Bears fell behind 5-1 in the third set on a mishit and trailed 8-3 on a kill from Cooper Longyear of the Wolfpack.
Claremont led 11-7 on an ace from Alex Hoffmeister but then the Bears started to rally as they drew within 14-11 on a push from Brinton and it was tied at 14-14 on an ace from Alston.
Duffield’s tapper tied it at 15-15 and a block from from Szaras made it 18-16 and a stuff from Etterbeek saw Burroughs pull ahead 19-16.
Duffield’s push made it 23-18 and Santiago-Dorn’s spike concluded the set and match.
Libero/defensive specialist Devon Romo contributed seven digs for the Bears.
