CV blows away Tornadoes

GLENDALE — There was clearly a difference between both teams when the Crescenta Valley and Hoover high boys’ volleyball teams squared off in a Pacific League match Thursday.

The senior-laden Falcons are looking to climb the league standings after a fourth-place finish last season, one in which the Tornadoes — who carry a majority of first-year players — did not field a team.

CV’s experience won out in a three-game sweep, 25-7, 25-12, 25-20, over Hoover, which committed 35 unforced errors in the match.

“Our starters are coming along,” said Crescenta Valley assistant Jerry Moulder as Coach John Nelson was out sick Thursday. “They are doing what we asked. It’s hard to play when there’s such a discrepancy in the teams but they stayed focused. We’re getting better.”

Both coaches walked away feeling good about where their teams are at early on in the season.

“Given that [our guys] haven’t really played for the last two years, I thought they made good strides,” said Hoover co-Coach Christian Hong.

If nothing else, it was exciting for the Tornadoes, who fell to 0-2 overall and in league, to hold their first home game in two years.

“The kids were excited to play in front of their friends, it’s been a while,” Hong said. “They’re happy to have the program back. …It’s exciting for them to be able to compete and know they have a chance to do something.”

The Falcons (6-3, 2-0 in league) spoiled the reunion and notched the first seven points on the day and used a 7-0 run to take a commanding 16-4 lead in the first game.

Crescenta Valley was aided by nine Tornadoes errors in the first game and a strong start from Ian Paprocki, who downed five of his match-high 10 kills in the first game, including the game-winner.

Hoover found itself in a 6-0 hole to start the second game, as well, but used a 3-0 run, started with two CV hitting errors and a block from Elijah Funtiveros, who finished with three blocks and two kills.

Another block from Hoover’s Dan Sanidad kept the game within three points, 10-7, but the Falcons used a 15-5 run — fueled by three Paprocki kills and two of Freedom Tripp’s four kills — to clinch the second game, 25-12.

The Falcons also got four kills each from Michael Linvill and Wesley Cormier.

Moulder put in his reserves for the final game and the result wasn’t pretty. Both teams combined for 34 errors (19 Hoover, 15 CV) in the third game, as the Falcons pulled off the sweep, 25-20, on a kill from Carter Warren.

“There was a little lack of focus from the non-starters,” Moulder said.

The Tornadoes got three kills from Jinhyuk Jang and two each from Sanidad and John Tranquena.

Although Hong liked the progress he saw from his team, there’s still clearly some adjustments that need to be made.

“We just want them to play and have fun,” Hong said. “They are kind of tentative and nervous right now. We just want them to relax and let their skills take over.”