IRVINE- On Friday, April 20, Beckman Boys’ Varsity Volleyball team held its annual Blu Cru Senior Night. The team honored players who were a part of the graduating class of 2012 by presenting them with flowers and public recognition. What made the night even sweeter for the seniors was a 3-0 win against Woodbridge High, putting the Beckman Patriots a step closer to the ultimate goal of returning to the CIF.
In honor of Senior Night, the regular starting lineup was modified to include all of the seniors. “It was really cool that only the seniors got to play and played every point,” said senior Eric Johnson, 15. “And, it was impressive that we didn’t have to resort to our bench throughout the whole game.”
The team played a stress-free game and all the seniors had fun and joked around, even when mistakes were made. “Most of us have been together for four years and it resulted in a fun game,” said Johnson. Even head coach Darin McBane encouraged the boys to focus more on having fun than winning. “Everyone was just having fun but it was still a close match, which I think made it fun to watch,” said senior Eric Shih.
Although the lineup of the players was different, the teamwork and cooperation among them was evident. The Patriots’ blocking and setting showcased their skill and ability to pass the ball. The first two of the three games ended with a final score of 25-23, but as Woodbridge failed to keep up with the pace of the game, Beckman increased the gap so that the final game ended 25-19.
As with any sports team the ultimate target of the Boys’ Varsity squad is the CIF playoffs. Last year, Beckman managed to make it to the semi-finals, but the players are not certain they can repeat their performance. “We aren’t as good as last year, but we’re still a solid team,” said Shih. “But, I think we can make it far if we focus on every game step by step and make each play a priority.” The Patriots hope to execute like a championship team with only three important games left in the regular league season.
Do you know if the volleyball team has ever won CIF, or has semi-finals been the furthest they reached?
Hi! Sorry for the late reply, but the team has, unfortunately, only made it to the semi-finals so far. Thanks for your comment!!
Good sports coverage.
As a Warrior, this loss was particularly dissapointing for us, but you still stayd quite objective and offered a good overview of the game. Next time, including more quotes in the story and including goals for the rest of the season will make the story more appealing.