| Buccaneers sink Cards (5/09) | | Print | |
| Written by Natalie Luu | |
| Friday, 22 May 2009 | |
|
The boys’ volleyball team dreamt of winning the AAA championships again, but that dream slipped away. Next year, it can be renewed with another chance, another season. In an intense championship game on May 8, the Cardinals fell to the hands of the Balboa Buccaneers as both teams lit up the O’Connell gymnasium, packed with roaring fans. The Cardinals were robbed of the most important victory of the season and the Buccaneers looted the Cardinals of their championship trophy. “Balboa had really good defense and we couldn’t really stop their hitters,” senior middle blocker Jonathon Li said. “We played well, but Balboa just played better.” The Cardinals fought a tough battle, but were inconsistent and went back and forth with the Buccaneers. Ending the game with scores of 17-25, 25-20, 26-24. 16-25 and a final set score of 13-15, the Cardinals were no match against the Buccaneers’ constant energy. Maybe the game could have had a different outcome if junior setter Joseph Lee had not cramped his leg in the last set, according to Li. Despite sitting on the floor in pain, Lee managed to set the ball, allowing the boys to tie the set 11-11, but the boys eventually lost the final set 13-15. Lee’s courage really left a mark on the players. A volleyball team revolves around its setter and the Cardinals were less powerful after Lee was taken out, according to Li. “It was hard to score without him,” he said. “Joe sets our entire offense and keeps the team together.” On May 6, the Cardinals, seeded first in the league, played the fourth-seeded Washington Eagles, who used their last ounce of energy in an attempt to stay in the playoffs. Even though the Cardinals employed new plays in the game, they still shut down the flightless Eagles 25-21 after embarrassing them in the first two sets 25-10 and 25-8. In their last regular season game on May 1, the boys tamed the Galileo Lions by a score of 3-1. In an earlier match on April 1, the Lions had not been at full strength; however, on this occasion the Lions roared but the Cardinals once again emerged victorious. The team lost its only set out of four to the Lions because it put in the less experienced players, as it was important to expose those players to a tougher team such as Galileo, according to junior opposite hitter Spencer Wong. The bench players did extremely well, going head-to-head with Galileo’s starting lineup with a good showing, though losing 20-25. Crucial newer players such as sophomore outside hitter Wayland Huang, sophomore opposite hitter Lincoln Lam, freshman middle blocker Eli Pleaner, freshman defensive specialist Jeffrey Wong and freshman outside hitter Tenny Zeng did well on the court and contributed to the points earned. “Everyone needs to play, and we improve and win as a team,” Leung said. “Plus, the break only pumped up the rest of the players.” What was intended as an easy victory on April 29 against the Burton Pumas served as wake-up call to the team, though the battle ended with a win after three sets. The team realized they needed to be on the very top of their game when the Pumas coach told coach Steven Wesley that the Cardinals took too long to win according to senior libero Michael Li. “Steven told us that we have a reputation as a strong team and we need to live up to it,” he said. On April 24, the Cardinals showed their preparedness and talent against the Washington Eagles. “We learned that day that we could put in some of the bench players and still keep up with a competitive team like Washington,” Wong said. According to senior outside hitter Vincent Lim, everyone played well even though each teammate’s level of experience varied. “It didn’t matter who was on the court because we’re a team, and we won together,” Lim said. Other than the Cardinals’ two losses to the Balboa Buccaneers on May 8 and April 17, the team has smashed the rest of the competition. “We knew that we could play better and told ourselves to keep it up,” senior middle blocker Christopher Leung said. “There was no excuse to lose, and Balboa only motivated us to work harder.” Looking back on the season, coach Steven Wesley said he has seen the team grow immensely as a team and a family. The newer members play like seasoned volleyball players and the experienced ones play like college-level athletes, according to Wesley. “With the large number of new players, it forced the returning members to remember the basics in teaching them how to play,” he said. “The new players have also done extremely well, becoming fearless with the help of the experienced members.” Talent, teamwork and hard-playing athletes make the secret formula for the Cardinal team. Though the team will be losing seniors Leung, Jonathon Li and Michael Li, the unstoppable junior trio of outside hitter Alvin Ho, Lee, and Wong are guaranteed to lead the Cardinals to success next year. “They are all very strong players,” Jonathon Li said. “I expect them to be in championships again next year.” The three have extreme potential, all gaining AAA All-City recognition with Lee as First Team setter for his second year, and Ho and Wong both receiving Honorable Mention. No matter what happened, the Cardinals had a great season and their unity is to be thanked. “Volleyball is heavily stressed as a team sport,” Leung noted. “The togetherness and chemistry of the team was the key to a great season.” MVP Very few players in the league can return Li’s dynamite hits, and he contributed many of the points throughout the season, earning a spot on the First Team All-City this year and Second Team All-City last year. Marking his territory as the top defender in the league, Leung made the First Team All-City as middle blocker for his second consecutive season. Although the Cardinals improved and won as a team, the dynamic duo of Li and Leung inspired the players and brought the Cardinals a step closer to victory. Share this article:           |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
to listen.
