Mariners' Volleyball was handed a rude upset by the visiting Mendocino College Eagles on Wednesday evening. Marin dressed just seven players and were reduced to six after an injury in the third set. Despite their numerical shortcomings the Mariners battled and were the better team for much of the match. In the end the Mariners did not quite have the energy to take down Mendocino and dropped the highly contested match 3-2. It was an excellent offensive match that saw the Mariners record 46 kills and 16 aces as a team.
The midweek showdown with the Eagles began in the visitor's favor as Marin trailed 21-17 in the first set. They called time and reeled off three straight points to pull within one. Mendocino called time but were unable to break the Mariners' streak, as the hosts took the set 25-23.
The second set turned into an epic when all was said and done. Marin led 6-3, 13-12 and 19-15 before a finishing flourish by Mendocino. The Eagles pulled within one a 23-22 forcing a Mariners timeout. The home team had a match point opportunity at 28-27 but could not close it out. Mendocino responded with a run of their own and evened the match at 1-1 as they took the set 31-29.
The Mariners took the third set 25-18, but an injury felled freshman Jade Williams as the Mariners were forced to play with just six for the rest of the match. Magnolia Johnson dropped from the libero position as the Mariners had no substitutes.
Though they led 2-1, Marin could not quite keep up with Mendocino in the fourth set, trailing 9-8 and 18-14 before falling 25-18.
The fifth and final set started in the Mariners' favor. They led at the side swap 8-4 but allowed a 7-2 run to trail 11-10. Marin called their final timeout at 13-11 and brought it within one at 14-13. Mendocino did not bend under pressure and finished off the Mariners 15-13.
Marin had five players record nine or more points while all seven players notched nine or more digs. Lara Perry was excellent in the middle with eight kills, seven aces and 1.5 blocks as well as 13 digs. Johnson played all over, as a libero and an outside hitter and filled up the stat sheet with five kills, five aces, four assists and 24 digs.
The loss dropped the Mariners record to 2-3 in BVC play with a road match at the College of Alameda up next on Friday October 11th at 6pm.
