Boys Volleyball: Quartz Hill falls against Saugus in first game
March 4, 2015
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
QUARTZ HILL — Junior Jason Eslinger has high goals for Quartz Hill this season.
"I'm worried about making my team better," he said after the Rebels' season-opening 25-9, 25-16, 25-16 defeat at the hands of Saugus on Wednesday. "Of course I want to be better, but I want my team to be as good as me ... without sounding as cocky as I just did."
Arguably the best player and the young leader of a team on a quest for a Golden League title, Eslinger led the Rebels with four kills as Quartz Hill took a tumble in the first match of the season against the experienced Centurions (1-1).
Wednesday marking only the first of 16 scheduled games for the Rebels, it's hardly time to press the panic button. Eslinger and the rest of his teammates all have plenty of time to work out their early season kinks.
"There are a lot of flaws we need to take care of, but they're easy things to take care of," Quartz Hill head coach Patrick Studdert said. "We have no major problems. They need to be fixed, but we have time to fix them before league season starts."
The Rebels open Golden League play on March 13 against Antelope Valley. Against Saugus, they were hurt by the Centurions' serving. Saugus collected eight aces in the first set, including five during a frame-ending 9-0 run.
Overall, the Centurions picked up 16 aces in contrast to Quartz Hill's six.
"It was good coaching. He knew where to serve the ball," Eslinger said. "He kept it away from the best passer on the court. He was jamming the ball to good sides. Smart play by the coach and the kids."
Julian Green added three kills and Kyle Cetti had two for the Rebels, who as a team recorded 13 kills.
For Saugus, which totaled 22 kills, Sam Safley had a match-high seven and Blake Webb added five. Evan Hare picked up four kills, all in the third set.
"They're all seniors except for one," Saugus head coach Barry Nua said of his team. "Most of them have been in the program three or four years. They're experienced, even the bench."
Quartz Hill had its chances. The Rebels drew within 18-14 in the second frame, but Saugus used a 7-2 run to finish the game. In the third, Quartz Hill was within 14-10 before the Centurions finished the match on an 11-6 run.
"When the matches get close like that, one of the teams takes advantage of that and today it wasn't us, it was them," Studdert said. "When it was close, they picked it up and took over from there."
Give the Rebels credit, however. They chose not to ease themselves into the season by scheduling a soft opponent to open it.
"I like it," Eslinger said. "You have to set a stage for yourself."
On Wednesday, at times it wasn't pretty. But the Rebels, who last season finished 10-4 in league play, will use that to their advantage. It's what preseason play is all about.
Led by Eslinger, spirits are still high at Quartz Hill after one match.
"I want to do it for my team," Eslinger said. "This isn't Jason, this is Quartz Hill. I'm not worried about making myself better. I just want my team to be on the highest level it can possibly be."
ALONSO TACANGA/Valley Press
QUARTZ HILL — Junior Jason Eslinger has high goals for Quartz Hill this season.
"I'm worried about making my team better," he said after the Rebels' season-opening 25-9, 25-16, 25-16 defeat at the hands of Saugus on Wednesday. "Of course I want to be better, but I want my team to be as good as me ... without sounding as cocky as I just did."
Arguably the best player and the young leader of a team on a quest for a Golden League title, Eslinger led the Rebels with four kills as Quartz Hill took a tumble in the first match of the season against the experienced Centurions (1-1).
Wednesday marking only the first of 16 scheduled games for the Rebels, it's hardly time to press the panic button. Eslinger and the rest of his teammates all have plenty of time to work out their early season kinks.
"There are a lot of flaws we need to take care of, but they're easy things to take care of," Quartz Hill head coach Patrick Studdert said. "We have no major problems. They need to be fixed, but we have time to fix them before league season starts."
The Rebels open Golden League play on March 13 against Antelope Valley. Against Saugus, they were hurt by the Centurions' serving. Saugus collected eight aces in the first set, including five during a frame-ending 9-0 run.
Overall, the Centurions picked up 16 aces in contrast to Quartz Hill's six.
"It was good coaching. He knew where to serve the ball," Eslinger said. "He kept it away from the best passer on the court. He was jamming the ball to good sides. Smart play by the coach and the kids."
Julian Green added three kills and Kyle Cetti had two for the Rebels, who as a team recorded 13 kills.
For Saugus, which totaled 22 kills, Sam Safley had a match-high seven and Blake Webb added five. Evan Hare picked up four kills, all in the third set.
"They're all seniors except for one," Saugus head coach Barry Nua said of his team. "Most of them have been in the program three or four years. They're experienced, even the bench."
Quartz Hill had its chances. The Rebels drew within 18-14 in the second frame, but Saugus used a 7-2 run to finish the game. In the third, Quartz Hill was within 14-10 before the Centurions finished the match on an 11-6 run.
"When the matches get close like that, one of the teams takes advantage of that and today it wasn't us, it was them," Studdert said. "When it was close, they picked it up and took over from there."
Give the Rebels credit, however. They chose not to ease themselves into the season by scheduling a soft opponent to open it.
"I like it," Eslinger said. "You have to set a stage for yourself."
On Wednesday, at times it wasn't pretty. But the Rebels, who last season finished 10-4 in league play, will use that to their advantage. It's what preseason play is all about.
Led by Eslinger, spirits are still high at Quartz Hill after one match.
"I want to do it for my team," Eslinger said. "This isn't Jason, this is Quartz Hill. I'm not worried about making myself better. I just want my team to be on the highest level it can possibly be."