Grossmont College men's volleyball is on a three match win streak.
The men first defeated Golden West 3-0 on Wednesday, March 4, 2020. Then the Griffin men took down Irvine Valley Friday, March 6 in a five set nail biter and huge 3-2 win. Next on the chopping block was SD Mesa College Wednesday, March 11.
The match vs SD Mesa College saw starters #11 Armando Abarca, #3 Mathew Jones, #9 Nickolys Jefferson, #8 Bryson Moore, #4 Jhon Manabat, #1 Blake Thomas, and #5 Andrew Shiheiber. SD Mesa may have served first, but the first point was won by Grossmont.
The first ten points of the game went point-for-point, and the score sat at 5-5 with #14 Nicolas Mitchell serving. However Mitchell's serve brought no point, yet the Griffins won the next one to equalize again at 6-6.
#4 libero Manabat has been and continues to be the Griffin's dig master this season, holding 98 kills so far his freshman year (plus some!).
SD Mesa took a small lead in the first set 12-9 when Grossmont called its first time-out. Point after point though, Grossmont caught up to the Olympians at 18-18 and took the set with some difficulty, and two back-to-back kills by Bryson "Danger" Moore, 28-26. The Griffins led 1-0.
The second set started and found Grossmont up 4-1. Shiheiber served successfully three times, and on the fourth Jones practically jumped over the score table to try to gain Grossmont's fifth point of the set. Just like the first set, the second went point-for-point.
After a series of attacking errors by the Olympians, Grossmont took a strong lead 10-6. The Olympians closed the gap 13-11, only for Grossmont to open it again 17-11 and then win their second set of the night 25-18.
Grossmont opened the third set with a quick kill by Jefferson, 1-0. SD Mesa pulled ahead 5-3 early, but after two attacking errors, the Griffins tie up the game and then take the lead 8-5.
The Olympians were relentless though and stayed in the game, 11-8. Grossmont took a big lead 15-10 after an incredible diving dig by Manabat. Grossmont was eager to finish their opponent, and played with the intensity of a lion mixed with an eagle.
The third set finished 25-16, with the final point being recorded by Jones.
The Grossmont men's volleyball team is currently 5-6, with it's next game at Palomar College Friday, March 13, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.