SportsVolleyball

New line-up helps spikers’ offense

Senior Scott Duong receives instruction from Head Coach Don Flora during Wednesday’s practice. The team has made several recent lineup changes including moving from a five-one offense to a six-two. / photo by Garrison Chaffee
Senior Scott Duong receives instruction from Head Coach Don Flora during Wednesday’s practice. The team has made several recent lineup changes including moving from a five-one offense to a six-two. / photo by Garrison Chaffee

by Rosie Sinapi
Editor in Chief

La Verne volleyball has its eyes set to beat Purdue University this week after losing down south to UC San Diego Tuesday night, 15-4, 15-7, 15-9.

La Verne changed its offense from a five-one with sophomore Ray Garza setting to a six-two with both senior Scott Duong and freshman Derek Boyle setting. With this set-up, Head Coach Don Flora hopes to build up La Verne’s passing game.

“If we continue to take more blocks and improve passing, our offense will grow,” said Flora. “We’ve made a couple of baby steps and with passing, we’ll make the bigger step and a possible upset.”

This will also be essential in beating Purdue, a final-four team last year, this coming Wednesday at 7 pm. This will be La Verne’s first home game since their back-to-back winning doubleheader on Feb. 21.

Unfortunately, La Verne is coming off a loss against UC San Diego. La Verne accounted for San Diego’s first win of the season going down in a little over an hour.

San Diego’s Tom Black, Dan Thomassen and Ed McMahon provided for most of San Diego’s 55 kills. For La Verne it was not all bad. Duong had a decent performance leading the team with nine kills. Much needed help on defense was provide by freshman J.R. Gon­salves.

“With the changes in middle blocker, we took a lot more blocks,” said Flora. “That’s been a focus for us and a need for us to win and play at this level.”

With so many kills coming from the other side of the net, senior Kevin Graves came up with five digs.

The game marked the use of the new offense which Flora remarked caused several problems including limiting Duong in the availability of kills he can execute. Flora believes the longer they play this type of game, the better they shall become and thus allow Duong to take on more kills.

It was also big for La Verne because it marked the return of several injured players including freshman Randall Reams.

“He’s not quite ready to play fully, but he’ll help us make the next step,” said Flora.

Rosie Sinapi, Editor in Chief
Rosie Sinapi
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Garrison Chaffee
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