High-flying Warriors pick up first win of season

After suffering a few tough losses to start the season, Carpinteria boys volleyball earned its first win of the year in a 3-0 sweep over Cabrillo High School on Thursday, Feb. 29. 

The Warriors had a slow start to the year, dropping the season opener on the road to Ventura on Feb. 22. The Warriors picked up one set win, but the Cougars took the home court advantage for the rest of the match and defeated Carpinteria in four sets, 3-1.

On Feb. 27, Carpinteria hit the road again to face the Rio Mesa Spartans in Oxnard. Heading into the match, Rio Mesa had won two straight to start the season at 2-0, with both wins coming in 3-0 sweeps over Moorpark and Fillmore. 

The high-powered Spartans squad proved too much for Carpinteria, and Rio Mesa came away with another 3-0 sweep, handing the Warriors their second loss in a row.

The next night on Feb. 28, Carpinteria hosted Santa Ynez for the first home match of the year at Carpinteria High School. Both teams came into the match with matching 0-2 records, but it was the visiting Pirates who earned their first win of the year in a 3-0 sweep over the Warriors.

Less than 24 hours later – in what was the Warriors’ third match in three days – Carpinteria hosted the Cabrillo (Lompoc) Conquistadores. In this match, the high-flying Warriors squad finally broke through into the win column, with Carpinteria securing its first victory of the year in a decisive 3-0 sweep in front of the home fans.

The Warriors overcame slow starts in each set to pull out the win, with Carpinteria claiming the first set, 25-22, before taking the second by a score of 25-19. In the third and final set, the Warriors held on to seal the match in a 25-19 final score.

Coach Favian Muralles said that Warriors hitters Javier Reyes and Cole Rowbottom played a “pivotal role in maintaining the Warriors’ competitive edge throughout the game,” with both providing well-timed kills to help Carpinteria earn its first win of the season.

With the win, Carpinteria now has a 1-3 overall record and will look to get a good start to the Citrus Coast League schedule this week with back-to-back conference matches. The team met up with Fillmore on March 6, and is on the road again on March 7 for a match with Nordhoff.