Warriors struggle in start of boys volleyball season

Nine of Fallbrook High School's boys are on this year's volleyball team which opened 2021 play with three-game losses April 6 at San Marcos and April 7 at San Dieguito Academy.

"I'm proud of the kids who came out," said Fallbrook coach Chip Patterson. "It is what it is. I can't get mad at them."

Fallbrook does not have a junior varsity team this year. The delay in the start of CIF sports has forced multi-sport athletes to choose, so many football and basketball players who normally also play volleyball are not among Patterson's players this year.

The volleyball team is also sharing the gymnasium with the boys basketball and girls basketball programs for practices as well as games. Fallbrook's boys volleyball team began practice March 13 when the girls volleyball team was also playing and practicing.

"We practiced late. We practiced 5:30 to 8:30 most of the time," Patterson said. "It wasn't ideal."

The nine players consist of two seniors, no juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen. "They're young," Patterson said.

Only two of those nine players were on last year's varsity, and both are currently sophomores. "Last year, boys volleyball did not get to have a season," Patterson said.

The 2020 Warriors were able to have 11 matches, including five in a tournament, before the coronavirus outbreak shut down competition. This year there are no tournaments. Sixteen matches are scheduled including two matches against each league opponent. This year the Valley League for boys volleyball consists of Fallbrook, Mission Hills, Ramona, San Pasqual, and Valley Center.

San Marcos won 25-7, 25-6, and 25-11 sets against the Warriors. "They're a higher-caliber team by far than us," Patterson said. "I can't be disappointed."

San Dieguito Academy won two 25-16 games before closing the match with a 25-9 victory. "The games were closer," Patterson said. "We scored more points."

Patterson attributes this year's struggles to the absence of players rather than the performance of those who are on this year's team. "It's just a frustrating year, but I'm going to take it," he said. "We'll take this year and chalk it up."

The compression of the seasons has also cost Patterson assistant coaches who are with other sports this year. Leilani Patterson is Chip Patterson's only assistant coach for 2021.

"I'm confident that we are going to make this thing work," Patterson said. "We'll be alright."