The Carlmont boys junior varsity volleyball team opened its season with a 2-0 win over Palo Alto on Feb. 24 in Belmont, defeating the Vikings 25-14, 26-24.
Carlmont established control early in the first set, building a steady lead through aggressive attacks and consistent serving. Palo Alto attempted to close the gap, but the Scots maintained composure and finished the set 25-14.
“Coming into the first match, it was really about bringing a lot of energy,” said John Tseng, head coach of the Carlmont boys junior varsity volleyball team. “We’ve been working on making sure that even when we’re out of system, we stay on the attack and keep the pressure on.”
The second set was far tighter. Palo Alto matched Carlmont point for point, eventually tying the score at 17-17 midway through the set. The Vikings capitalized on moments when the Scots’ blocks and spikes became inconsistent, keeping the pressure on late.
“We definitely didn’t expect to struggle that much in the second set,” said Eli Chen, a sophomore middle hitter for Carlmont. “In practice, we’re usually much more decisive, but the main thing is that we were able to bounce back. We fixed our mistakes and finished strong.”
Carlmont responded with a short scoring run sparked by sophomore Eric Zhang. Zhang shifted the momentum from the Vikings with two consecutive spikes during the middle stretch of the second set.
“Communication was pretty tough for the first game,” Zhang said. “We were subbing in so many different players that we haven’t really had the chance to get used to playing with everyone on the roster yet.”
Later in the set, Zhang served during a critical sequence when Palo Alto misplayed a return, sending it into the wall behind the court. This error allowed Carlmont to seal the 26-24 win in the second set and complete the victory.
“I used a lot of serving subs because we had some trouble in that second set,” Tseng said. “I think we got a little overconfident, but the guys coming off the bench really stepped up and made a difference. It shows we have a full roster that can play well together.”
“I think we’re in a good spot for the start of the season,” Chen said. “As we keep going, we’ll get to know each other’s playing styles better, and everything will start to feel more polished.”
Carlmont begins the season 1-0 and will continue nonleague play before entering the Peninsula Athletic League schedule later this spring.
