By Rick Assad
Knowing the opponent had potent hitters with an accurate setter and was capable of long scoring runs, the Providence High boys’ volleyball team was prepared for a close match.
Rio Hondo Prep has three hitters who stood out on Friday evening in a Liberty League match and the trio helped the visitors claim a 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 decision at the Fritz B. Burns Activity Center.
Fifteen points separated the two teams and a win in the third set by the Pioneers would have forced a fourth game.
Providence (10-5 and 2-2 in league) was ahead 22-20 in the final set on an ace from junior Daniel Reyes as the Kares needed a time out.
At this juncture, a fourth game seemed almost assured.
Not so as Rio Hondo Prep’s Rainn Pollock, a junior outside hitter/opposite hitter, and one of Rio Hondo’s big hitters, put on a spectacular display as he scored the next four points.
Pollock’s spike that made it 23-22 saw the home team request a stoppage in the action.
When Providence sophomore Jacob Pniowsky’s push cradled the net, the set and match was over.
Pniowsky’s kill tied it at 3-3 in the third set and a push from sophomore Connor Wang evened it at 5-5.
A kill from Reyes sliced the lead to 8-5 and an ace from Reyes saw the Pioneers slip ahead 12-11.
Pniowsky’s service winner made it 14-12 in favor of Providence, but the Kares bolted in front on a mishit from Providence’s Cruz Camacho, who is a sophomore.
A dagger from Reyes made it 18-18 and Pniowsky’s kill knotted the set at 20-20.
Steven Tozlian is the Providence head coach and knew it was going to be a tight match.
“Rio Hondo has a lot of fire power, so we went in knowing we had to get some blocks,” he acknowledged. “I think we did a good job getting touches and slowing down Rio’s big hitters. I want to compliment the Rio Hondo setter and their offense in general.”
Providence opened the first game by winning the first five points and led 5-0 on a block from Pniowsky.
Rio Hondo Prep (16-4 and 7-0 in league) then rattled off five straight points that included an ace from freshman setter/outside hitter William Wu and now it was deadlocked at 5-5.
Junior Jaden Casal’s push made it 8-5 in favor of the Pioneers and a spike from Pniowsky increased the lead to 11-7.
A kill from Providence’s freshman Joseph Sepilian made it 14-11 and an ace from junior Joshua Estrada saw the Pioneers forge a 16-11 advantage as the Kares needed a breather.
Rio Hondo Prep grabbed a 19-17 cushion on a kill from Pollock and a tapper from sophomore outside hitter/middle blocker Nate Riley, another big swinger, made it 22-19.
Junior setter Ethan Lo’s block witnessed the Kares march in front 24-21 as the Pioneers asked for a time out.
Camacho’s push saw Providence draw within 24-23 but a tapper from junior middle blocker Kaleb Parry, the third heavy hitter, sealed the set.
The Kares began the second set 6-0 on Pollock’s back-to-back kills that made it 5-0 and 6-0.
A winner from sophomore outside hitter Michael Moller increased the advantage to 10-4 and then 12-6 on Riley’s dagger and 13-6 on a winner from Pollock.
Rio Hondo Prep moved ahead 19-12 on a kill from Riley and Moller’s push saw the Kares lead 20-12 as the Pioneers asked for time.
Pollock’s spike made it 23-13 and Moller’s ace made it 24-13 as the Pioneers needed another halt in play.
Casal’s block trimmed the lead to 24-15 but Riley’s stuff capped the middle game.
Tozlian also had kind words for his squad, who battled tooth and nail against a very good team.
“I liked how we were able to shake off the big loss in the second set and still battle in the third,” he stated. “We had greatly improved serving consistency compared to our recent matches. I also feel that we had a lot of stretches with great serve receive.”
