Warrior spikers win home opener in five

Fallbrook High School’s boys volleyball team played its third match of the season and first home match March 21, capturing a five-game win over Valley Center.

The win against the Jaguars, who won the 2005-06 CIF Division II championship, gave the Warriors a 2-1 record. Fallbrook had previously lost to Torrey Pines in four games before defeating Avocado League opponent El Camino in three games.

“We were looking forward to having this matchup,” Fallbrook coach Tom Saunders said of the contest against Valley Center.

The Warriors would have to face Valley Center without two of their anticipated starters. Setter Erick Sampson rolled his ankle during a March 1 scrimmage; although he returned to practice on March 23 he was not available for the Valley Center match. Just days before the match against the Jaguars Fallbrook lost opposite hitter Alex Samuelson to a broken hand; Samuelson is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. “We were looking forward to his offense,” Saunders said of Samuelson.

Samuelson was the kill leader against El Camino; he was successful on all 11 attempts against the Wildcats.

Valley Center also lost a starter to injury prior to the Fallbrook game; one of the Jaguars’ outside hitters is out indefinitely with an ankle sprain.

Valley Center won the first game by a 25-21 score, but Fallbrook came back with 25-17 and 25-20 victories. Winning two games in a row may have hurt the Warriors in the fourth game. “The guys relaxed,” Saunders said.

Valley Center took a 6-0 lead in the fourth game, and the Jaguars eventually prevailed with a 25-16 victory to force a fifth and deciding game.

“The fifth game was a nail-biter,” Saunders said. “We never got more than a point or two apart from each other.”

The fifth game was played to 15 points with a two-point lead required for victory. The game ended with the score 17-15 in Fallbrook’s favor.

Outside hitter Taylor Hughes led the team with 24 kills and seven service aces against Valley Center. He tied for the team lead with four blocks.

Bryce Dornan, who took over for Samuelson, also had four blocks. Dornan added seven kills and seven assists. “It was a big match for him stepping in,” Saunders said.

Outside hitter Al Siaton had 16 kills and three aces. Kyle Chaisson, who is the starting setter until Sampson returns to full strength, led the team with 49 assists. Outside hitter Cory Clark had six aces.

“We had our jump serving going,” Saunders said.

The Warriors have their first tournament of the season, the San Pasqual Tournament, this weekend.