Oliver Welch pounded 20 kills and Morgan Pierce added 16 with four blocks to power Cate to a five-set win over host Carpinteria in a Tri-Valley League boys volleyball match on Thursday. The scores were 23-25, 25-17, 25-22, 20-25, 15-10.
It was the first loss in league for the Warriors (7-2 4-1). Cate is 4-4 overall and 4-3 in league.
“Overall, it was our best match of the season,” Cate coach Greg Novak said. “We developed a strategy in the match and we executed our strategy, and it paid off. It was just a great, great match.”
Novak said Spencer Towle and Parker Matthews were key to the win with the passing and back-row defense.
Mason Picerni led Carpinteria’s attack with 11 kills and eight blocks. Victor Saldaña had 15 kills and setter Jose Angeles handed out 27 assists.
Victor Garcia and libero Arturo Angeles played strong defensively, said coach Dino Garcia.
