Written by RYAN SPARKS
The Bulldogs found themselves down two games to none due to the stellar play of Heritage's outside hitter combination of Chad Virgil and Ian Black, both of whom continuously hammered set after set into the Hemet defense, causing the Bulldogs to commit a slew of unforced errors and mistakes.
"We had to play with a lot more intensity. We were doing a lot of stupid things," said Hemet coach Eric Graham after the game. "We were netting on balls we were digging. We were netting on balls we blocked. We missed easy serves. Once we stepped up the intensity we were fine."
The momentum shifted in the third game when the Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead led by the defensive presence of middle blocker Jay Urias and back court specialist Chandler Ruggieri. Urias began blocking and disrupting the Patriots' outside attack and any ball that got by him was dug out by Ruggieri. Hemet took the third game, 25-11, with the final two kills coming from hits by Urias.
"Once we get our block going our defense doesn't have to cheat," Graham said of the key to his team's turnaround. "If we get a lot more intensity on our blocks it gives us a lot more fire and gets everybody in the back row ready to move."
Urias agreed. "The first and second game we were really frustrated. We needed to pick up the intensity and that's what we did."
The Bulldogs, riding the momentum of the third game, continued to put pressure on the Patriots in the fourth game. However, Heritage responded to keep the fourth game close. With the score at 23-21 in favor of the Bulldogs, Urias spiked a loose ball through the middle of the Patriot defense for a point that got the home crowd cheering. That crowd then erupted on the next play when he blocked Black's spike attempt to secure the game four victory.
In the fifth and final game the Bulldogs were down early at 4-2 but eventually tied the game at 9-9. That's when Hemet's defense asserted their will. Several Patriot spike attempts were thwarted by Urias and middle blocker's Tristan Yoder and setter Jacob Hill. What got by them was dug out by the hustling play of Ruggieri. Hemet scored eight of the final 11 points to secure a 15-12 fifth game victory and win the match, 3-2.
The victory gives the Bulldogs sole possession of second place in the Sunbelt league standings. Their overall record is 15-5 with a 3-1 league record. Heritage's record drops to 3-6, 1-2 in league play.