SWEET WIN ON SOPHOMORE NIGHT - PLAYOFFS IN THE PICTURE
The Sophomore Night win propels the Hornets into the playoffs- a first since 2023.
The FC men's volleyball team put it all together on Sophomore Night rallying from an early deficit to defeat Santa Monica College in a dramatic five-set 3-2 reverse sweep Friday night.
The victory was especially meaningful on Sophomore Night as Fullerton honored its two-year players before the start of the match. Those recognized for their hard work and dedication were Curtis Lee, Elias Morales, Seth Asaoka, Drew Craig, Matt Chacon, Jasper Nadelson, and Samuel Chavez.
The Hornet's big win bumps the team up to 14-8 overall and to 10-4 in the Northern Division. The regular season ends with a three-way divisional tie between FC, Santa Moncia, and Long Beach.
After dropping the first two sets 25-23 and 25-23, the Hornets found themselves on the brink, but the FC offense came to life in the third set putting a halt to the Corsair's momentum. Up 19-15 after a strong kill by Curtis Lee, Fullerton managed to close out the set 25-21. The Hornets battled hard in the fourth set flipping the match entirely to win it 25-23.
Still hot, Fullerton kept the flame lit dominating the decisive fifth set 15-9 to complete the comeback and a shot at the postseason.
Logan Busch had a big night witht 16 kills on an impressive .483 hitting percentage while adding 3 blocks, 7 digs, and 2 aces. Curtis Lee matched him with 16 kills of his own, while adding 4 digs. Samuel Chavez delivered a match-high 17 kills with 9 digs. Jasper Nadelson added 10 kills, while Emiliano Razo pumped out 54 assists.
The Hornets finished with 63 total kills and a .317 hitting percentage as a team. Defensively, Fullerton was steady, collecting 47 digs, with Saman Bagheri leading the way with 18 digs to anchor the back row.
Up Next: The No. 8 Hornets will travel to No. Orange Coast College on Friday, April 17th for the Southern California Regional Playoffs. Match time is set for 6:00 pm.
