Sam Biscaro pulled a fast one on Santa Barbara High volleyball coach Chad Arneson Friday night.
The senior setter, who has been hobbled by a badly sprained ankle for the past 10 days or so, played throughout the Dons’ 25-15, 25-20, 25-21 CIF opening-round sweep of visiting Lakewood, not telling to his coach that he was in pain.
“He didn’t mention anything to me about his ankle hurting throughout the match,” said a surprised Arneson. “He’s a pretty stubborn kid, and I think it shows what a competitor he is.”
Just then, Biscaro limped by and Arneson asked him why he didn’t say anything.
“It was a 3-point game… Of course I wasn’t going to tell you,” said Biscaro.
He has until Tuesday to rest and rehab before the No. 3 seeded Dons (13-4) face Edison in the second round, with the venue to be decided by coinflip.
Taylor Fauntleroy had 11 kills against the Lancers and Chris Pratt added 10 more in a match that Biscaro felt lacked energy on the Dons’ side.
“I feel like we could have put in a much better effort,” said Biscaro. “We’ve got a good team coming up. Edison’s legit and they’ll be ready for us.”
The first set was tied at 2-2 but never got too close after that, as Biscaro distributed the ball evenly and the Dons had a nice cushion most of the way. Pratt ended it with an emphatic crush of a quick set in the middle.
The second frame started off a bit closer, with the Lancers trailing by just one at 11-10, but Santa Barbara used a combined eight kills by Pratt and Fauntleroy from that point on to close it out. Lakewood (4-11) hung tough in the third and was trailing 21-20, but Alec Smythe put down two key kills and Fauntleroy ended the match with two more.
Arneson highlighted the play of Smythe and said that he wants the senior to get more touches in the next round. He also praised Lakewood for playing an inspired match.
“They played as if it was the last game they would ever play together, and I think our boys need to really cherish these opportunities and not take things for granted,” he said.
Should Biscaro not be able to play Tuesday, Arneson said that both Blake Williams and Daniel Hedden are more than ready to step in for him.
Don’t count on that happening.
