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Martinez Tribune
The door has only been open for a year, but Alhambra’s performance on Tuesday night showed that they weren’t just ready to step through – they kicked it down.
After taking the last five North Coast Section Division II titles, Campolindo will make way for a new champion this year after Alhambra defeated them 3-1 in the semi-final of the North Coast Section playoffs.
“They’re a very solid team, and I can easily say they’ve improved dramatically since the first time we played them,” said head coach Peter Crowley. “Their middle hit was devastating.”
The Bulldogs overturned a nine-point deficit in the fourth set to come out victorious, but for quite some time it looked like the match would go all the way to five sets.
“I was yelling, ‘Two points to every one of theirs!’” Crowley said. “We were able to draw it back, and once we got tied I knew we had it. But I can’t say until that time that I knew we were going to get it.”
For the third time this season Alhambra came out victorious over the Cougars, but not without some fight from the Moraga team, and adversity for the Bulldogs.
Once more Alhambra played with guys who were less than 100 percent. Senior setter Savion Prieto was the man who had most to deal with, as he battled a fever, a nagging hip injury, and what looked like a staple stuck in his sock for two sets.
He still managed to rack up 35 assists on the day, but was spelled briefly by Nick Lucido, another senior who has been versatile for Crowley, who has utilized him as a back up setter, opposite hitter, and basically anywhere else he needs him. Lucido had one kill, three blocks, one ace, three assists and seven digs in the contest.
Alhambra’s ability to adjust is what has made the most difference in the quality of play against Campolindo this season. The first time the two teams met, they went the distance before Alhambra won in the fifth set on the road.
Their next meeting went 3-0 to Alhambra after Crowley made some adjustments with his senior outside hitter Jerald Jionoran.
“Jerald is a dominant outside player, so what we did is we switched him to the back row and moved Kyle (Magtibay) up front, and it gave us a little more balance,” Crowley said. The change allowed Will Jochum to stay up front and allow Jionoran to play from the back, and not allow teams to try and key in on either guy.
That strategy paid off, as Jionoran racked up 17 kills in the win, while Jochum had 10. However the 6-foot-9 senior’s worth was more evident on the defensive side, as his five blocks along with two from Prieto, and one key block late from Christian Cota stymied Campolindo when it mattered.
“What you saw happening is our passing let us down in a few places,” Crowley said.
“Our blocking near the end of the game really made the difference there.”
With the win the Bulldogs earned a chance to avenge one of only two Diablo Foothill Athletic League matches when they host the Las Lomas Knights in the Division II title game on Friday night.
After a shocking loss on April 14 to the Knights, the Bulldogs rebounded by beating Las Lomas handedly on the road on May 3.
“We have made some adjustments since we played them the first time. We had a weakness,” Crowley said, highlighting the change that was made to balance the team by moving Jionoran.
“I’m looking forward to it, should be a good match,” he said. “This is new territory for us … I think we have a chance to take it all the way.”
