The varsity boys beach volleyball team (2-4) defeated Westview (1-4) during their game at Carmel Valley Middle School on Oct. 9. With four of the five seeds winning their matches, the Falcons demonstrated an overall aptitude in offense, succeeding in keeping the ball away from the defending Wolverines.
The Falcons’ strategy going into the game was to “reduce the amount of unforced errors,” according to varsity assistant head coach Chris Rosskopf, who found that it worked “so well” that they did not have to change their strategy at all during the games.
The teammates and coaches assembled for a pep talk before the game, preparing to keep their high morale throughout the upcoming plays. The second through fifth seeds took to the four sand courts first to initiate the matches.
In the second seed, Cruz Acers (11) and Cullen Gibson (11) won the final two sets of their game but lost the first. During their loss of the first set, although they were making good defensive plays and digs, the opposing players were skilled at placing their shots where the Falcons could not reach in time.
Contrastingly, the Falcons’ ability to set up the other partner to hit was on point and aided in their ultimate victory. In the final two sets, they were able to better concentrate their offense, delivering more precise shots and bigger hits to the opposing team.
“We were able to play well all around because of the work we’ve been putting in at practice,” Gibson said. “We lost one of the sets because we let the opposition go on runs, and that deterred us mentally. Thankfully, we were able to rally back and eventually win the game.”
In the third seed, Beckett Greenbaum (12) and Nate Mahon (12) won both of their sets, as well as Noah Hill (12) and David Kim (12) in the fourth seed.
In the fifth seed, Vini Po Rivetti (12) and Justin Meltzer (10) lost against the Wolverines. Losing both of their sets, the two players struggled to control the ball, ultimately leading to their defeat.
“I think we were too focused on what the other team [was] doing,” Meltzer said. “ We could have focused on our game more and kept our side simple, versus overthinking it.”
The first seed played last, with Declan Flanagan (12) and Griffin Dieter (11) defeating their opponents in both sets.
They maintained their initial momentum, consistent in their first touches, and played a key role in setting up the resulting plays. They maintained their choices of play throughout the sets, their hits persistent during the games.
“They’re always a tough matchup because Declan is a dominant blocker and hitter, but also passes and plays defense really well, and Griffin can do it all, but in particular is a wizard on defense,” Rosskopf said.
Flanagan and Dieter will compete in the San Diego High School Individual Pairs Beach Championship after the team playoffs end, hoping to defend their titles as victors of last year’s tournament.
Overall, these Falcons demonstrated efficient hustle, running to every ball and getting the vast majority of “ups.” This proficiency was crucial against Westview’s rivaling offense.
The Wolverines defended shots with considerable expertise, but the Falcons’ comprehensive ability to hit with immense strength surpassed any opposing efforts.
“Everyone was hitting the ball hard and keeping the ball away from the defenders, which allowed them to score lots of points,” Rosskopf said. “As we [the coaches] were watching the games, we were giving the players advice on who to serve to and who to give free balls to, but the athletes were recognizing this on their own and making the needed adjustments to give them the best chance to win.”
