Islander Boys Volleyball Falls To Clairemont

The Coronado Islander boys volleyball season has been one of peaks and valleys. At different times the Islanders have been able to string together two winning streaks of at least three games.

But they have also amassed losing streaks at different times of both three and six games. Not ideal.

But that’s just how sports work; we all know that. However, it’s the teams that can weather those storms and losing streaks that are often the ones that can rise above and become special.

Coming into this week, the Islanders looked to return to their winning ways as they faced off versus Clairemont High School.

In the first set, things would play incredibly tight thanks to strong service games from Ryan Kimura and Christian Neibert, and a pair of key kills by Evan Thomas and Greyson Glorieux.

However, despite playing things close, the Islanders would have some untimely miscues like a service fault and long kill attempt, proving fatal as they would fall in the first set 25-19.

However, in the second set, the Islanders would bounce back nicely and jump out to a 3-0 lead thanks to blocks by both Thomas and Nicholas Redding.

But that lead would be short-lived, and the two teams would return to razor-sharp play that would put the Islanders in an 18-13 hole. Despite the five-point deficit, the Islanders would put together a 9-3 run highlighted by kills from Thomas, Glorieux, and an ace by Matthew Slentz, tying the match at 22-22.

Sadly, the Islanders would subject themselves to more self-inflicted errors that would allow Clairemont to regain momentum and eventually take the set by the final of 27-25 to take a commanding 2-0 lead.

In the third set, the Islanders would fall behind early, falling into a 6-2 hole. But they didn’t roll over as they responded with an excellent 4-0 run highlighted by a block and kill by Niebert.

The two teams would go shot for shot, leaving the game at a 14-14 tie until Coronado used a timeout. Out of the short break the Islanders would go on another scoring run to take a 20-16 lead that would be capped off by an ace by Redding. At that moment, the Islanders were well on their way to taking home the third set.

Unfortunately it just didn’t work out that way. Clairemont would close the game on an impressive 9-0 run and take home the match, 3-0.

While the loss to Clarimeont was tough, the Islanders rebounded later in the week as they picked up a win versus High Tech High moving their record to 8-15 and 3-1 in conference play.

The boys will be back in action this week with matches versus Chula Vista and Mar Vista on April 10 and 11, respectively.

VOL. 113, NO. 15 - April 12, 2023