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Warrior boys will gain volleyball experience this year

When Fallbrook High School boys volleyball coach Chip Patterson was a drill instructor in the United States Marine Corps, his recruits went from often being just out of high school to being ready for secondary school in 90 days.

"Anything can happen," Patterson said.

Patterson will be using his skill development experience with this year's Warriors squad whose players include only one athlete from the 2014 season.

"The road is tough, but we're going to navigate our way through it," Patterson said.

The returning player is middle hitter Isaac Maxwell, a junior, but a shoulder injury is limiting Maxwell's physical contributions. "He's only able to give 75 percent," Patterson said.

Sophomore outside hitter Henry Prouty is a transfer from Northern California and played junior varsity volleyball in 2014. "Everybody else is brand new, no volleyball experience," Patterson said.

It could be said that former Fallbrook player Taylor Hughes had no previous high school volleyball experience in 2005. In 2008, Hughes was the Avocado League player of the year. Hughes has two older sisters who played volleyball for Fallbrook High School. "None of my kids have siblings who ever played volleyball," Patterson said.

Fallbrook's roster itself includes 6'7" Matt Araiza, who has an ankle injury and likely will not play this season. Last year's underclassmen also include one who is playing tennis for the Warriors this year and one who is currently academically ineligible. "We should have had four returning players," Patterson said.

Four North County Conference schools – Mission Vista, Oceanside, Rancho Buena Vista, and Vista – do not have boys volleyball teams. The North County Conference has four girls volleyball leagues; Fallbrook is in the Valley League with Mission Vista, Oceanside, Orange Glen, Ramona, and Valley Center. The conference has three boys volleyball leagues including the Avocado West League with Fallbrook, Carlsbad, Del Norte, El Camino, La Costa Canyon, Mission Hills, and San Dieguito Academy. "Most of these teams that we're playing, they have boys who are playing volleyball all year round," Patterson said.

Many of Fallbrook's boys play other sports rather than club volleyball, including some who have spring football practice in the morning prior to the start of classes as well as volleyball practice after school.

The Warriors began their league and overall season March 11 at La Costa Canyon. The Mavericks swept the match with 25-6, 25-7, and 25-11 victories. "We knew we were going to lose to La Costa Canyon," Patterson said. "They're a well put together team."

Fallbrook's first home match of the season took place March 17 against Del Norte. "We were doing a little better against Del Norte," Patterson said.

The Nighthawks prevailed by a 25-8 score in the first game. "Passing was the thing that killed us," Patterson said.

Del Norte completed the three-game sweep with 25-15 and 25-10 triumphs, garnering 18 points off serves in those two games. "We can't have that," Patterson said.

Mission Hills traveled to Fallbrook for a March 19 match and returned with a 25-13, 25-4, 25-17 victory. "They scored more points," Patterson said of his team.

"They are making improvements."

The results through March 19 gave Fallbrook a record of 0-3 both for the season and in league play, but Patterson noted that his players are gaining understanding of the sport as well as skills. "It's going to take us a couple of years to build this program," Patterson said.

"Thank God I have assistant coaches," Patterson said. "They do a lot of great work."

Leilani Patterson and Kim Zember are Fallbrook's assistant coaches. The Warriors do not have a junior varsity team or a novice squad this year.

"I take one day, one step, at a time," Chip Patterson said.

 

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