“It’s good to see a lot of the old generations of Raiders and new generations of Raiders come together and have a good time playing the game we love,” Moorpark College head coach Aaron Hedland said. “I know the guys were looking at it as a real match and an opportunity to prove their work.”
The alumni took the first lead up 1-0, the only lead they would see in the first set. The Raiders took over behind a dominating front row made up of 6-foot-5 freshman setter Steven Weese, 6-foot-6 freshman middle blocker Austin Hignite, and 6-foot-3 freshman right side hitter, Gurpreet Ghotra. They towered over the alumni who struggled to get in a rhythm.
With a pair of aces from sophomore Jordan Moses, the Raiders took a confident 11-6 lead and went on to win 25-16.
In the second set, the Raiders took an early 7-4 lead, but the alumni finally warmed up. It went back and forth until the alumni pulled forward, winning 27-25.
The intensity carried into the third set. With the score at 9-8, freshman Ryan Horan served a pair of back to back aces, giving the Raiders a push as they went on a 10-5 run to put the score at 19-13. Although the alumni finished with a 7-2 run, the hole they dug themselves earlier was too much to climb out of, and the Raiders went on to win 25-22.
The alumni carried their intensity from the third set into the fourth set as both teams traded points until it was 9-9. An Austin Hignite kill put the Raiders up one, however it was the last time the Raiders would see the lead and lost the set 25-20.
“They’re a little rough, they make some errors they need to clean up, but there is a lot of talent and a lot of potential,” Alex Barr said, assistant coach for the Raiders said.
The alumni built off the fourth set, taking an early 2-6 lead in the fifth and final set. After challenging a controversial call, the alumni received a yellow card. This disrupted their momentum, which allowed the Raiders to come back and take the lead with a kill from freshman Ray Parra-Lopez, putting them up 9-8.
After it was announced the set would go to 25 points instead of the customary 15, both teams fought to build a lead. The match was tied at 26-26 when Parra-Lopez came up big for the Raiders with the kill to put them up one and finished off the alumni with a game-winning block and point.
Heading into the 2019 season, the Raiders look to build off an exciting first preseason victory. After a disappointing 2018 season, the team is determined to bounce back and finish this season with a conference title.
“We expect to at least make a run in playoffs, if not go to state,” Dylan Haskell said confidently, a sophomore middle blocker for the Raiders.
Alex Barr summed it up perfectly. “Conference champs or bust.”
To follow the Raiders this season, visit Moorpark College Athletics website.
