The No. 7 Pierce College Brahmas (4-1, 12-5) knew that taking the win from the Moorpark College Raiders (4-1, 8-11) Wednesday would be needed in the fight for first place in the Western State Conference- North, and they delivered with a straight set victory.
Pierce needed to win the match in three sets to still have a chance at the conference title. Earlier in the season Moorpark had defeated the Brahmas in straight sets.
“That sets our team and theirs up for a tie situation,” head coach Lance Walker said. “We are still in control of our destiny in the sense that we have to play a good game on Friday.”
The Brahmas started off the match by taking the first set (25-17) with the great team defense.
“We executed perfectly today. It was a team across the board,” Walker said. “Coaches, players, bench, fans – everybody that came did what they needed to do. It was awesome.”
Straight to the ground spikes from Brandon Oswald, ace serves from Max Petuhov, good saves from Blake Omartian and an abundance of team effort is how the Brahmas won all three sets of the game.
“Today was one of our best games,” Brahma player Brenton Scott said. “We played very well as a union, and everyone just did their part very well. I felt like we were humming as a team.”
After the Brahmas took the second set (25-19), the Raiders put up more of a fight in the third, and it went back and forth.
“The reason why we were so close in score in the third set is because, as in any team, you kind of start timid, anxious and a little nervous in how you are going to perform,” Scott said. “But as the sets go on, you just kind of start going for it.”
According to Walker, with tonight’s victory, they need a victory on Friday against Santa Barbara Community College to win conference.
If the Brahmas are able to wrap up conference Friday, they should have home court advantage through the playoffs.
“We are hoping to win conference because if we do win, the goal for us is to be in the playoffs and hopefully get through that first round,” Walker said. “We have home court advantage because we are hosting the state here, so being able to have another home game is the goal.”
According to Brahmas player Jadrien Wiser, having shorter and slower practice before a game is helpful to their performance during a game.
