The  Warriors ninth overall in Orange County came into the Pacific Coast League game of the week matchup on Sept. 22 with high hopes against the Beckman High Patriots, but fell short in a nail-biter loss of 3 sets to 2. 

When the team stepped onto the court they came out strong, making a statement to the Patriots that it would not  be an easy game.

“I was very pumped up, due to the game being very close and action packed,” sophomore spectator  Anthony Palacios said during the heat of the game.

Rally after rally, the Patriots went on to take the first set (25-20) after the team came out flat after a timeout by Beckman High.The team then went on to tie it up after winning the second set (25-23) in close style, with a backheel kick dig to win a round.

In the third set, the team fed off  the momentum and  pulled away from a (16-16) tie. Going on a massive 9-2 scoring run lead by star player senior outside hitter Mima Mirkovic as she took over, giving the team the set win in convincing fashion (25-18).  Mirkovic finished the game with 20 kills adding to her total of 90 kills on the  season.

Both teams kept duking it out back and forth, dig after dig and kill after kill  until the Patriots had won the fourth set over the team. This moment would send  the game to a fifth and final deciding set.

After the game Mirkovic commented on her team’s performance during the game stating, “ During the game,  it  was really cool and awesome to see how everyone still came together during tough times. Even when we are down it’s important that we stick together.”

 The teams were fighting it out as the game came down to the wire.The Patriots reached set point and the match point with a five point lead. The team was hanging on, but the Warriors brought it back within a point. Despite this last effort to take home the win, the Patriots were able to just edge the team out, taking the final set (15-13).

After the game, sophomore outside side hitter Jenny Leitman commented about her and her team’s performance stating that, “ As a team against Beckman, we played well, and did many amazing things, individually I thought I did pretty well. I tried to help my team as much as I could and be as positive as I could.”

The team will play their next league matchup against University High on  Sept. 26., giving the team a chance for redemption against Beckman High on Oct. 11.

After the game, coach Alan Ho commented on improvements that could be made to the team stating, “Even though we did not play the way we are capable of, we still were close to coming away with the win. I think if we take care of business on our side, we have a good chance of beating them the next time we play them.”