The Moorpark Raiders men’s volleyball team returns home to take on first place El Camino. The Raiders come home after a string of four away games in which they went 3-1. Their last game was against rival LA Pierce where the Raiders lost in the fifth game.

Moorpark is currently in fourth and is battling for a position in the playoffs. With the end of the season approaching, every game has added importance.

Moorpark, 5-4 in the league, takes on 9-1 El Camino. The first game kicks off with both teams keeping it close until El Camino took a lead of three points, forcing Moorpark to take a timeout with a score of 17-20. Moorpark came out of the time-out strong and took a three point lead of their own, forcing El Camino to take a timeout with a score of 24-21. Moorpark continued on to take the last point and win the first game by a score of 25-22.

The loss was probably a shock to El Camino, having swept Moorpark in their first meeting. The Raiders proved they are not a team to look past, and headed into the second game with confidence.

The second game was much like the first, with both teams not willing to give an inch. Halfway through the score was tied at 14-14, and the teams stayed even to a score of 19-19. El Camino finished strong and won the game by a score of 21-25.

With the match tied at 1-1, the third game began. El Camino pushed to an early lead of 10-15. Moorpark struggled to come back but El Camino kept their lead and won the game 17-25.

El Camino took a 2-1 lead in the match, putting the Raiders into a win or go home situation. Game four was much like game one and two, with both teams trading points. Moorpark took a lead of 21-17 and looked to keep the match going. The Raiders forced a game five with a 25-20 win.

The Raiders were exactly where they wanted to be, according to coach Steve Burkhart. Yet the fifth and final game proved too much for the Raiders, who fell to El Camino by a score of 10-15.

“We did a great job to get to game five where anyone can win the match,” said Burkhart. The Raiders had hoped to force El Camino to a game five where they would have a chance to beat the number one team in the league.

Another frustrating loss in the fifth gam, said middle blocker Brandon Kohler. Kohler believed his team had a great chance at winning the match, and showed in the past that they could play with and possibly beat El Camino.

Libero Jose Rojas agreed with his fellow captain,

“We let that one go, we could of done a lot better, [we] need to limit our errors,” said Rojas.

The Raiders have a tough road ahead of them to earn a spot in the playoffs, but the players are more than ready.

“We got to show we deserve to be in the playoffs,” said Kohler.

Rojas simply put it as “playoffs or bust.”

The Raiders will head to Long Beach on Friday, April 4 and will be looking to earn a playoff spot.