#1 ranked Vikings nearly upset by Corsairs

Despite a strong effort by the Santa Monica Men’s Volleyball team, the Corsairs lost three sets to the Long Beach City Vikings 25-17, 25-21, and 25-22.The Corsairs stayed competitive in each set and kept up with the Vikings who are ranked number one in the State of California at 13-1 and have only lost one game this season against Moorpark.

Paul Myers, middle blocker for the Corsairs, felt the team had become better even though SMC has now dropped to 0-8 in Conference play and 3-12 overall.

“I feel like we improved as a team since the last time we played Long Beach City College,” said Myers.

The first set started off with the Vikings taking an early lead 7-4, but Charlie Schmittdiel had an impressive block to stop the Vikings’ advance and help bring the Corsairs back within one at 10-9.

The Corsairs stayed close, but eventually lost the first set 25-17.

In the second set, Aniefre Etim-Thomas helped the Vikings take the lead 6-4 with a kill that extended the lead to 9-4. But Paul Myles brought momentum back for the Corsairs with a strong block, and along with Connor Corgiat, who added two explosive kills and two straight aces, the Corsairs came back to within four at 21-17.

Despite a late comeback by the Corsairs, it wasn’t enough to stop the Vikings who went on to take the second set 25-21.

At the start of the third set, the Corsairs seemed fired up and the lead changed several times between the Corsairs and the Vikings as both teams were responding back and forth with explosive attacks. A kill by SMC’s Jason Mallek tied the set at 6-6. Schmittdeiel added an ace and four kills to bring the Corsairs back within one at 12-11.

The Corsairs never gave up rotating key kills by Mallek, Corgait, Schmittdeiel, and Fabio Calesso. Schmittdiel fought hard and had a kill to tie the third set at 20-20 but Max Wechsung of the Vikings ended the match with a kill. Charlie Schmittdiel had eight kills and Fabio Calesso had six kills to lead SMC while Matt Wade of the Vikings had eight kills.

The Corsairs have two more games left to play this season; one against LA Pierce at home on Wednesday April 4 at 6 p.m. and one the following week versus Moorpark.