LOS ANGELES — Alemany boys volleyball has been pushing all week to make history and its goal for this season was to claim the Mission League title. Unfortunately, Loyola showed once again why the program has dominated its rival opponent for nearly two decades.
Loyola got off to a slow start and then took command in the middle of the first set and Alemany was routed on the road, 25-18, 25-18, 26-24. The loss means Alemany will have to wait at least one more season to clinch at least a share of the Mission League title it hasn’t won since 1999.
Loyola (17-1) trailed set one 6-1 but then caught fire behind sophomore Luke Turner, who ripped a shot down the middle to make the score 18-9 and Alemany never fully recovered.
Turner finished the match with a game-high 16 kills for the Cubs.
After the play was over, Alemany senior outside hitter Tanner Briggs received a yellow card for yelling at the officials over a double touch call on setter Steven Weese.
“I should have done a better job of keeping my composure,” Tanner Briggs said. “At the same time too, I didn’t feel that the card was necessarily warranted. I was just trying to defend my teammate, but at the end of the day the officials run the game. It was in the middle of competition and I’m a competitor. It happens.”
Coach David Decker spoke to his embattled senior after the costly play which gave an added point to Loyola.
“I just told him that we are not going to beat teams by allowing the officials to make calls against them,” Decker said. “We are going to beat them by doing what we do well. It was a good learning moment and he responded well.
Turner continued to attack Alemany’s middle and Loyola managed to throw waves of double teams at junior Long Beach State commit Mason Briggs.
“It was tough and they did a good job of coming at me,” Mason Briggs said. “We kept attacking and attacking. I think we still played well. We know that we are a great team and we’re just going to get back at it tomorrow.”
Alemany (22-2-1) went five sets before Loyola came away with the win and haven’t won against its Mission League foe since 1994.
Mason Briggs led his team with 10 kills and his team led 17-9 in the final set. Alemany was able to serve Loyola out of rotation but could not handle the power behind Turner who had seven kills in the final set.
Now the Briggs brothers will have to wait until the playoffs for another shot at Loyola.
“We know we can play with them,” Tanner Briggs said. “I love the way that they bring out that spirit in us. I love playing them every single time. We showed what we were capable of at home and just didn’t come out as strong today. We’re just going to have to work so we can get them back.”
