Carlmont’s JV boys volleyball team beat the Saint Francis Lancers at home on Thursday, April 17. Carlmont controlled the match from start to finish, winning 2-0 with set scores of 25-14 and 26-24.
At the start of the first set, the Scots quickly established their rhythm through a starting group of freshmen and sophomores. They operated with precision, utilizing aggressive serving and disciplined defense. The veteran sophomores and standout freshmen showed their chemistry through their performance, which resulted in a large, early lead. Carlmont showed complete control during its defense-to-offense transitions while the hitters found openings in the opposing team’s blocking setup. The Scots won the set with a dominant performance, ending 25-14.
“First set, we came in confident. We played our standard and made points for the highlight reel,” said Eli Chen, a sophomore middle hitter for Carlmont.
With the team holding the advantage, the coaches decided to implement an unexpected new strategy during the second set. The Scots played a team of freshmen, allowing the younger players to gain experience while testing the squad’s depth.
“The second set, we put in our benches. We put an entirely freshman team on. It was a fight, but in the end, we persevered, and we got through it,” said Carlmont sophomore Eric Zhang.
The freshman unit maintained its focus during the final moments of the set when the score got close. The young Scots played out extended rallies while they maintained verbal communication under pressure. Carlmont responded to every scoring attempt by its opponents with a determined block.
“Our freshman center, Devin, did very well. He went all the way around, and he’s very good when he’s on the court because he makes everyone else better,” said John Tseng, Carlmont’s head coach.
The atmosphere got intense as the set went on. The all-freshman squad displayed advanced composure, maintaining its attacking style. With the set ending extremely closely, their opponents made one final mistake, and the Scots secured the set victory at 26-24.
“We had some difficulties in the second set. I put in all freshmen to give us a competitive feel. We got behind, we got ahead, then we finished it off. I’m very proud of our freshmen for figuring it out,” Tseng said.
Despite the victory, the coaches viewed the tight second set as a learning opportunity. The freshmen proved their ability to handle close game situations, but the match highlighted specific technical aspects the team must improve.
“One thing we’re going to improve on is our serve receive. When we receive the ball, we’re not quite passing it in the right spot. We need to get it closer to the net,” Tseng said.
