REDLANDS – The Redlands High boys volleyball started slowly in some matches this season. Terriers coach Daryk Mall wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.
Mission accomplished, as the Terriers defeated host Redlands East Valley 3-0 in the Citrus Belt League opener for both teams on Tuesday night. The scores were 25-22, 25-23, 25-19.
“The boys sometimes come in a little bit stale,” Mall said. “I think we did a better job today. We came out a little more passionate and energetic. When we played (Arrowhead Christian) we were a little more mellow. We won that one but we lost the first set against ACA.”
Said Redlands’ Leon Siahaan, “I’m super happy how it went. REV has always been Redlands High’s rival school, and I remember last year we were up two sets against them and we lost in five. I feel like we had more energy.”
Redlands' Leon Siahaan gets up against REV's Landon Mlotkowski. (Photo: John Murphy)
Redlands led the first set 24-22 and won it on a botched serve by the Wildcats (3-8 overall, 0-1 league).
The second set was tied 21-21 until a bad serve by REV, an unforced error by the Wildcats, and two violations handed the victory to the Terriers.
Redlands led the final set 18-17 until the Terriers went on a 6-0 run to seize control. A nifty dump shot by Collin Namsang and a Namsang kill put Redlands on the cusp of victory.
REV coach Sabrina Watkins imparts some wisdom. (Photo: John Murphy)
Despite the setback, REV coach Sabrina Watkins was not crestfallen.
“I’m very happy with how it went,” Watkins said. “It was the first day of league and we had a short preseason – we’ve only been together for about 2½ weeks. And we had a game canceled last week. Redlands is a great competitor so I’m happy with how my guys did.”
Watkins thought Redlands’ ability to sustain long rallies and avoid mistakes was the difference.
“They know who to feed and when to feed them and they found holes in our defense,” she said.
Redlands coach Daryk Mall surveys the action. (Photo: John Murphy)
Watkins complimented the play of Wildcats Mark Huynh and Giovanni Carissimi.
Chris Moroun led Redlands (8-4, 1-0) with eight kills and Namsang had three blocks.
Mall also lauded the play of Jacob Alegre, Philip Shin, and Saul Yanez.
A third-generation San Francisco native. His first job was in Watsonville, where he wrote stories on a typewriter and people smoked in the office. He's covered Redlands, San Bernardino and Riverside.
