MVB: Vaqueros dig out of two-set hole to triumph

SBCC dropped two close sets to Golden West on Friday night, then stormed back for a 3-2 men’s volleyball victory in a nonconference match at Huntington Beach. The scores were 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 15-11.

“We couldn’t figure them out in the first two sets but we remained confident,” said coach Matt Jones. “It was nice to see us get composed and come back for the win.”

Jeremy Berch, a 6-9 freshman from Santa Ynez High, had 11 kills and hit .364. Sean Reynaert also had 11 kills and hit .333. Jaiden Pina added nine kills and Casey Alper had nine digs.

SBCC jumped ahead 6-3 and 8-3 in the fifth and deciding set. The Vaqueros (5-2) have won two of their last three matches in five sets.

The Vaqueros switched to a 6-2 offense to start the third set with Keaton Arutian and Kyle Smiley both setting and that threw off the Rustlers (1-5). Smiley had three aces and To’o To’o had four blocks.

“We started to do a better job of taking away their best hitter (in the third set) and we started blocking and playing better defense,” Jones stated.

The Vaqueros open WSC play on Wednesday when they host Santa Monica at 6 p.m.