The Arcadia High School’s (AHS) Boys Varsity Volleyball team squared off against Valencia High School (VHS) in an away game on Feb. 23, emerging victorious in a thrilling 3-2 win. AHS scored 104 total points to VHS’ 103, making the match one of the most memorable in recent history. With this victory, AHS extended its win streak to an impressive eight games and improved their overall record to eight wins and one loss, the best winning percentage for any team in the Pacific League.

The match started out rough for AHS, who lost the first two sets with scores of 20-25 and 18-25, respectively. However, just four days prior, the Arcadia boys had completed a nail-biting 3-2 win over Canyon High School (CHS). Thus, they had experience being in close matches and knew that, through composure and focus, they could ultimately fuel a comeback.

In the third set, AHS squeezed out a close, exciting 25-22 win, slowly chipping away at VHS’ initial 2-0 set lead through their strategic plays and analysis. They specifically utilized an offense that was centered around “a lot of middle attack[s],” according to freshman spectator
Ratachai Vasnarungruengkul. These middle attacks were AHS’ main weapon throughout the night, as they figured out that this was one of VHS’ main weaknesses. Along with this, with AHS’ strong middle blocker presence throughout the season in star senior Noah Chung, it was an opportunity too good to pass up.

In set four, AHS dominated VHS, 25-17, and tied the game at 2-2, a crucial set win that was instrumental in propelling AHS’ confidence in their abilities and in each other. The match was now up for grabs in a set five showdown.

Set five would ultimately live up to the excitement and expectations, coming down to the final few rallies that had the fans from both schools on the edge of their seats. However, riding off their momentum from the latter two sets, AHS was able continue their smart playing to finish the job and close out VHS with a final set five score of 16-14, winning the match three wins to two.

“We were able to best the Vikings through our perseverance and grit,” Coach Mulder explained when asked on how AHS had managed the mighty comeback.

With two back-to-back comeback wins and eight straight wins, AHS truly has a bright season ahead of them and is promising to be the team to see on campus.