Volleyball at the University of Junge prevails in a confined match with Woodbridge – Orange County Register

Irvine – Cole Barkett has something to prove. He wants to fit in. Actually, he wants to fit more than in one.

He wants to stand out. And on Friday, the 6-foot 5 junior chose most of the moment to put on a few stilts.

Barkett had a hand in seven of the 15 points of his team in game 5 to lead the university to a highly competitive victory over the rival Woodbridge, 25-22, 19-25, 24-26, 26-24, 15-11, in a showdown of the Pacific Coast League.

“It was almost as if he put the team on his shoulders and turned into a one-man wreck crew,” said team-mate Cole Mchenry, a junior who led the university with 23 kills in his home fitness studio.

The big nights of Mchenry and Barkett helped the university to improve to 13: 5, 3: 1 in the PCL. Woodbridge, which had an 8: 3 lead in a crucial game 4 for the Warriors, fell to 7-3, 3-3.

“We are in a really competitive league, I think everyone has a victory and a defeat,” said Alan Ho, coach in Woodbridge. “This could be a topic in the course of the year, everyone keeps beating each other.”

University coach Hailey Frey agreed to this assessment. But unlike Ho, she saw more consistency and execution and really liked how her team reacted to the moment.

After struggling with consistency and injuries – including a broken fibula by Collin Hiller a few weeks ago against the Capistrano Valley – the Trojans put together a complete game.

“We found our groove in the last games, we found our chemistry,” said Frey. “Chemistry and culture are enormous in our team.

“Every point is important to us because the league is very good this year. Every league match will be tight. “

Mchenry, a three -year -old starter, said that the Trojans finally overcome the shock, lose Hiller and fill the hole in the line -up. He also said that it is not unusual that it is not unusual that the Trojans have been several times. It is important that this is a team that does not panic.

“We're at the moment,” said the 6-foot 4-Mchenry. “We really play one point after the other. We are pretty much behind and have withdrawn. But this is a rivalry between crosstown, it is really important to win for us. It was so important to us. We wanted to win for Collin. “

The university took the first game after being brought together at 20-20, but Soloman Moaleji had three kills in the last five points to achieve a 25-22 victory.

Woodbridge connected the match with the most one-sided score of points-after 14-11. But a number of runs over three possessions helped the Warriors to achieve an advantage of 20 to 16 to take control.

Woodbridge overcame a 17-13 deficit in the third game when Sho Okihara served eight points in a row, driven by the game of Evan Condon, who had two blocks and a kill during the route. The run started that the university hit far, long and wide, which scored the score with 17-17 before Condon bent his muscles. But even then, despite the big run, the university gathered to 24 per piece. Woodbridge took it with 26-24 when Logan Matsuda a winner and Holden scored the game winner.

Woodbridge had the chance to win the game in game 4 and had an 8: 3 advantage early on. But the university has put together three and six runs to lead 14-9. Woodbridge and faced a 22-20 advantage, but Barkett had a dink, then an ace, and Woodbridge returned for a long time. Block of Moaleji and Rayan Heyati with 24-24 gave the university a 26-24 victory that combined the match in two games.

Game 5 mainly belonged to Barkett, a middle blocker. He was on the net early, then he went to the service line with a 10-6 advantage and served 12-6. Woodbridge replied with the help of the ceiling. The ball fell twice in the next four points after beating the roof between the university defenders.

“We're a bit unlucky,” said Barkett. “Usually this works to play with the low roof because we are used to it. One of them was completely my fault. I didn't watch the ball. “

Woodbridge came within 12-10, but Mchenry had a kill and Heyati had a block and a kill for the game victory.

Woodbridge was led by Fogts 15 Kills and Karen Shiaris 11.

In addition to his 19 kills, Barkett had a few surprising aces. “I want to be a big player in this team, I always want to do my best,” said Barkett. “I'm a good server, but I usually can't serve. But the coach finally gave me a chance (after the game was bound 1-1). I would like to prove that I am one of the best players in the league. “

His performance against the warriors was a good beginning.