On Thursday night, the boys’ varsity volleyball team played the Southern High School Trojans and held their senior night festivities. Before warm up began, the seniors were celebrated and were presented with volleyball gift baskets.
“The senior night as a whole just kind of felt great because I feel like the support is what had me performing at my best compared to other games,” Cristian Evans (#33, 12) said.
Set 1:
Luke Boggs (#20, 12) started the first set with three service aces in a row, displaying a strong command of the flow of the game and startling the Trojan’s receivers. Boggs held his serve for six points in a row, most of the points were aces, while one was a tactical error from the Trojans.
With the Crimsons up 7-0, the Trojans finally managed to score their first point of the match during the first rally of the game, setting the score 7-1. Immediately after, however, Manual scored another point, forcing Southern to call a time out to hopefully stop the Crimson’s momentum with the score 8-1.
After the timeout, Seth Neiman, (#3, 11) began serving for the Crimsons. Neiman followed in Bogg’s footsteps, dominating with many service aces, not allowing for the Trojans to bring many balls to rallies. In the end, the Crimsons closed out the first set 25-7, driven early by unreceived serves.
Set 2:
Manual carried their momentum into the second set despite Southern opening on serve, immediately capitalizing on a Southern service error to grab control. Behind strong serving from James Lincoln (#25, 10) and steady setting from Boggs, the Crimsons pushed out to a lopsided lead.
Boggs managed to achieve an underhand set to Lincoln, and, after a long rally, the Crimsons took the point home, putting them up 11-4. Southern struggled with service and tactical errors while Manual’s front blockers and wing spikers continued with big stuffs and kills. The Crimsons were the first to twenty, while the Trojans only had seven. Neiman then sealed the set with a sharp service ace, putting Manual firmly ahead, two sets to none.
Set 3:
Manual, showing consistency, started the game with two service aces from Boggs. Southern, for the first time all game, however, scored three consecutive points and led the Crimsons 3-2. However, Manual’s serve receive and front row pressure quickly flipped the momentum back into their favor.
Viet Pham (#14, 12) had consistent digs and provided great stability to the fast paced offense of the Crimsons. With the Trojans serving, Pham then provided a pass to Boggs to orchestrate a back-row attack from James Sunny (#10, 11), setting the score 18-8.
Afterwards, Brandon Chu (#23, 10) buried the Trojans with a slew of service aces and while losing his serve, Chu brought the Crimsons to match point. The Trojans fought back, surviving one match point but Evans, with a deep attack, sealed the sweep for the Crimsons.
“To be honest, after I hit it, it did not feel great coming off the arm, and like it was placed right, like perfectly,” Evans said about the final rally.
Manual won by pairing dominant serving with steady serve‑receive, controlling each set from the opening points and using a balanced, physical front line to keep Southern from ever finding a consistent rhythm.
Head Coach Emma Jackson appreciated the team’s drive and was satisfied with many of the plays that the team managed to pull off. While Jackson is going to miss the seniors as part of the team, she will miss the qualities they bring to the team as leaders. Considering the upcoming season and championships, Jackson exuded confidence.
“We just need to keep winning,” Jackson said.
The Crimsons next game will be at the South End Smash Invitational at Pleasure Ridge Park.
