SportsVolleyball

George Mason takes spikers to limit

Sophomore J.R. Gonsalves (#16) had several chances during the match to spike the ball. During the second game, this one whizzed past Lewis College’s Bart Bachorski for a kill. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
Sophomore J.R. Gonsalves (#16) had several chances during the match to spike the ball. During the second game, this one whizzed past Lewis College’s Bart Bachorski for a kill. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Echelle Avelar
Staff Writer

Friday night’s win against Vassar was nothing compared to the high impact volleyball game that La Verne played Wednesday night against George Mason that ended in a winner take all rally with the Patriots prevailing in five games, 16-13,13-15,15-9,12-15,10-15.

It was all La Verne the first game, George Mason the second, Mason again in the third, then La Verne stole the fourth, ending it in a topsy-turvy rally scoring game that held the fans on the edge of their seats.

“It was a high energy game,” said freshman middle blocker Steve Trypuc.

Starting the first game quickly, La Verne took the lead, 5-1, on an ace by freshman outside hitter Chris Sheets who served four of the Leopards first five points.

The two teams had five ties before a controversial play, mid-line violation by Mason, that put La Verne on top, 14-13. But it was recalled and replayed for the Patriots behalf.

After 10 sideouts, and game at a standstill, 14-14, the final two points came from outside hitter Rob Sneider with the assist from middle blocker Jason Flick, who performed a solo block, and Trypuc with the kill to make it 16-14.

Game two had both teams goosing the scoreboard for nine series, until Mason broke through the block.

Entering a timeout taken by La Verne, the Leopards lagged 9-3. But with a solo block by Sheets and freshman outside hitter Jeff Pang serving, the score was increased to 9-5.

After a dual block by Flick and Sneider, and a solo by Sheets, the game ended seconds later with Mason winning 15-13.

With the match even at one, tempers flared as Mason led 2-0 when and a yellow card penalized the Leopards in the beginning of the third game, it ended with the Patriots winning 15-9.

La Verne roared back, never letting the Patriots get out of reach.

Sneider made the first move, scoring the first two points for La Verne.

Later, two tag-team blocks by Flick and Sneider set the Leopards up 12-8, leading the way to La Verne’s 15-12 win.

A fifth game rally with each mistake counting the Leopards hung one point short to the eight point side switch.

Down 8-7, La Verne could not pull out of Mason’s shadow losing 15-12.

Tuesday night the Leopards took a road trip, to San Diego for an all out battle against the San Diego State Aztecs.

With a score of 12-4 already showing before the first timeout, the Leopards ended the first game with a 15-10 loss against the Aztecs.

In the second game, La Verne still had a rough time controlling San Diego.

Sheets received a red card, deep in the game that pushed the Aztecs lead to 8-3 before SDSU won 15-9.

“The tension from the crowd was overwhelming. I didn’t know I had so many fans,” said Sheets. “I tried to tell them they were No. 1 and I got a red card.”

Momentum down, La Verne headed into game three, losing the game and match to the Aztecs with a final score of 15-7.

Saturday’s duel with the Lewis University Flyers landed the Leopards a loss, shut-out 3-0.

With a three point deficit, 6-3, in game one, Coach Flora substituted freshman Greg Harasymowycz for Sheets.

Once sophomore middle blocker J.R. Gonsalves took his turn at the ball, he turned the tide, paddling the Leopards upstream tying score, 6-6, with the help of Flick assisting with the kill.

Flick who finished the game with 12 digs and 11 kills and hit .750 for the game, increased the score for the Leopards to 9-8.

“I was in a zone and I was on fire,” said Flick. “We lost because volleyball is a team effort.”

Unable to keep the Flyers contained they flew past La Verne’s defense raising their score 12-8.

With Gonsalves’ ace making it 10-13, Harasymowycz stepped up serving, tying it up, 13-13.

The next two plays ended it for the Leopards as Lewis leaped over them, winning 15-13 in the first game.

The second game was set off by Sneider, who placed the Leopards on the board 2-1 with the aid of senior Rich Coles.

Flick killed the Flyers’ ball with a sideout then assisted Harasymowycz shooting the score to 3-2. With a sideout Lewis, Flick cannoned an ace, then connected with freshman Chris Peterson giving them a 5-3 lead.

Shutting out the other team, Peterson then hooked up first with Gonsalves, then with Flick for a 8-3 finish.

Finding a weak spot, the Flyers crept back into the game winning, 15-12.

Thriving to bounce back, La Verne headed into game three down 2-0.

But even with Coles ace and Gonsalves’ five consecutive serving points, the Leopards fell to Lewis.

Friday night, ending a seven-game losing streak, the La Verne Leopards men’s volleyball team broke the Vassar Brewers barriers wiping them off the court for their first home win of the season of 3-1.

Starting the first game off with a lead the momentum continued and by the first rotation, the Leopards were up 5-3.

Before the Brewers had time to recover, the Leopards had finished the game with 20 kills and a score of 15-9.

La Verne entered the second game with a win under its belt, Vassar broke the stride, letting the Leopards complete only four points and 14 kills.

La Verne won the next two games, finishing off 15-9 and 15-13. Sneider led the match with 34 kills, followed by Peterson, with 24.

The team plays tonight at Stanford and Sunday afternoon against Ohio State University, at Stanford.

Echelle Avelar, Sports Editor
Echelle Avelar
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