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Filling up bleachers with excited fans wearing “Property of Lowell VB” V-neck T-shirts, a rowdy crowd from schools all over the Bay Area watches the intense and highly-anticipated AAA boys’ volleyball championship game.
Clinching the first place title on May 7 at the championship game with a cutting-edge 3-2 score and set scores of 24-26, 20-25, 25-14, 25-18 and15-12 against the Lincoln Mustangs, the Cardinals fought a consistent and fierce battle to win the title that escaped them last year when they lost to Balboa Buccaneers. “I think the team has worked really hard this whole season to win the title back,” senior manager Erin Lee said. “It wasn’t only about who deserved it, but it was also about who wanted to win more. I feel like our boys had the drive to pull through in the last three games to grab the championship title.”
The Cardinals lost the first two sets to the Mustangs, with scores of 24-26 and 20-25, having to break the regular 25 points per set. Senior and former defense specialist Kevin Dinh has been observing the Cardinals play since he left the team. “The match began with scrappy plays on both sides of the net but in the end it was the consistency of Lowell’s team and the veteran experience of the seniors that really pulled through,” Dinh said.
Luckily, the team adjusted and picked up their game at the beginning of the third set, according to coach Steven Wesley. “We knew it took a while for us to start going and get adjusted to our opponent,” Wesley said. “Once that happened, we became much more comfortable in running our normal game.”
Senior outside hitter Spencer Wong scored the winning point and had a match high of 19 kills. Sophomore libero Jeffrey Wong also had an impressive match high of 64 digs. Both players, as well as senior outside hitter Alvin Ho and senior setter Joseph Lee made it to the All-City First Team, announced before the championship match. Lee received the Peter K. Yan award, given to the AAA player of the year. Senior outside hitter Chen-Chen Huo also made it to the All-City Second Team and junior opposite hitter Lincoln Lam received an Honorable Mention.
In the playoffs on May 5, the team played the Balboa Buccaneers, last season’s championship titleholders, and defeated them 3-2. The Cardinals lost their first two sets, but made a comeback and won the last three sets to narrowly defeat their opponent. “We got more excited later in the game when we won the third set,” Huo said. “We were more excited because we still had hope to win, or else it’d be our last game.”
This year the team focused on keeping control of the game and being consistent, as well as fixing their weaknesses. “Volleyball is a mental game and it’s important that everyone understands that the more control over the mind we have, the better the outcome,” Wesley said. “The boys played each point of each game as if it were any other game. That led to their undefeated AAA championship.”
Next year, the team will lose key starters and six seniors including Ho, Lee and Spencer Wong. One of them, senior middle blocker Jordan Wan was also a key player and was new to the team this year. During the playoffs and championships, Wan rotated with Spencer Wong to help the team win the third and following sets. To retain the 15-member team’s skill, the team had recruited many fresh volleyball players in the beginning of the year who have now gained experience to play strong next season. Sophomores Jeffrey Wong and middle blocker Eli Pleaner and juniors defense specialist Stanley Lin and opposite hitter Lincoln Lam are among the many key and versatile players that will return next year. Lin was new to the team this year.
Most Valuable Player
The Lowell’s choice for most valuable players are: senior captain and setter Joe Lee, senior outside hitter Alvin Ho and senior opposite hitter Spencer Wong. All three players made the All-City First Volleyball Team and have played consistently well throughout the season.
On the team for four years, Lee is often looked up to as the leader of the team. Voted by the team as one of the volleyball captains in the beginning of the season, Lee has been described as a dedicated and skillful team player with outstanding sportsmanship. Lee won the Peter K. Yan Award, given to the AAA player of the year. Directing the team from the setter position, Lee often makes the calls and plays. The players consider Lee as an essential part of the team. “Joe is hardworking and a good sport,” Wong said. “He is always the person to bring everyone’s spirits up and, basically, he is the backbone of the team.”
Also on the team for four years and regarded as an excellent all-around player, Ho also deserves recognition. “Alvin is one of our most dynamic players,” Lee said. “He plays good defense and is always an offensive threat.” With rare high records of both kills and digs, Alvin indeed seems to be the “best player all-around.”
A crowd favorite, Wong is another talented and crucial player on the team. Wong did exceptionally well in this season’s championship game, scoring the final point for Lowell to clinch the first-place title. “Spencer has been the playmaker of the season,” Dinh said. “When things don’t go right, the coach rotates Spencer to a more effective position and Spencer has pulled through. Spencer rarely makes a hitting error and he’s pulled the team from tight spots like champs.” With a match-high of 19 kills during championships and with the highest number of kills of the season, Wong is definitely a dangerous and valuable member of the team.
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