Despite Loss, Somers Still Puts the Fun in Volleyball

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On Thursday October 17, the Somers boys volleyball team continued their second season versus Fox Lane, and despite facing a tall order against more height and experience, Jaiden Marichal didn’t let the disadvantage get him down. “Volleyball is so fun to love, and you can get addicted to it,” said the hitter. So the outcome was far from being tough to take.

A four set win for Fox Lane, smiles were still all around for the Tuskers.

The disparity quickly revealed nonetheless. Joe Racanelli served an ace, and Somers followed with two unforced errors for a 3-0 game. Then Fox Lane started to go on the offensive.

After Racanelli served into the net, Perez Polanco unleashed two kills on the way to a 6-1 lead. But the Tuskers wouldn’t be cowed when Polanco uncorked a pair of rockets on the next point. First Jordan Daniyan stood tall on projectile one, and next Marichal had the dig. Over the net, the front line botched the return, and Somers pulled to 6-2.

Another Fox Lane error at the net made it 6-3 and Somers stayed close with some swing of their own. Marichal received the bump, and knocked it down to the perfect set and approval of Jacob Anderson. “He knows how to hit it, snap his wrist and get it down to the attack line where they can’t get it,” said the setter.

A 7-4 game resulting, Somers stayed on the ball. Ryan Ball put a second row kill in the corner first, and then, his diving save set Simon Szabo up for the kill to make it 9-7.

Unfortunately, the close game didn’t last. After Szabo got a block at the net for an 11-10 deficit, Fox Lane jumped out to a 19-11 lead and easily took the set 25-15.

And the second set was more of the same. Fox Lane scored 16 of the first 17 and finished the game by a score of 25-13.

The Fox Lane starters now coming out, Somers got the chance to show more of their stuff. Szabo served a pair of aces, and Marichal’s hit from the left gave Somers an early 4-2 lead.

Even so, Fox Lane held a 12-7 lead at the halfway point, so the elephants needed a game changer. On the left, Marichal rolled the dice on too wide a set and still hit the corner.

Earning the serve, the junior reeled off five aces in a row. “I’ve been practicing,” he assured.

Not to be on serve six, Marichal still had help. “I love his confidence level,” said Anderson of Szabo, and the hitter showed it by going full blast after his first spike was returned.

Unforced errors on the way for both sides, it was Szabo that broke the string. A kill and an ace, the senior gave the Tuskers a 19-17 lead.

Six points to go, Somers continued to punch one-two. Marichal’s kill made it 22-18, and Szabo struck from the back line for a five point lead.

Both times Anderson stepped in and took care of the decision making process. “I like to run the offense,” said the junior.

Two Fox Lane errors ended the game, and the Foxes now sprinkled in a few of their starters. As a result, the visitors took nine of the first ten points.

A few Fox Lane errors following, Somers would cut the lead in half on a Ryan Ball ace. 10-5 became 12-6 on a kill from the center by Mark Mundis, and he cut the lead to four on an ace three plays later.

Still, Fox Lane extended the lead to 15-10, so Somers dealt aces wild. Five straight for Szabo, and Fox Lane again had to repopulate with their big guns in a 18-15 game.

Ryan Hardie to be specific, the very big man knocked down a block and four kills for the 25-21 final. No matter, Jordan Daniyan laid out the real final score. “I like being part of this team. It’s really fun, and I love everyone who plays it,” the sophomore concluded.