April 27, 2010
Union City survives at Memorial
Union City's Andres Martinez had 23 assists in the win over Memorial.
Click Here for photos from Union City at Memorial.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
WEST NEW YORK – For Union City it was all about regaining confidence.
After controlling play for most of the third game, the Soaring Eagles found themselves on the verge of self-destruction as five consecutive Memorial points put would had been a certain victory, in peril. Despite the tense situation, Union City would ensure this win would not get away as they held on for a 21-25, 25-16, 25-21 victory yesterday.
“For our team it’s very easy for us to get down,” senior Nathan Joubert said. “I don’t want to say we have no self-esteem, but we’re a very talented team. I think we just need a few of our kids to step up like Julian (Diaz), me. It just picks up the team and we can take it from there.”
Getting the last point proved to be the most difficult for the Soaring Eagles (8-5) on this day. Serving for the match point with a 24-16 lead, a pair of Union City faults along with two kills and a block from the Tigers’ Jonathon Carpio had swung momentum back in favor of the host team.
But the sixth try would be would be the charm for the Soaring Eagles as a long rally would end with a Memorial (1-8) net fault to end a thrilling, albeit stressful victory.
“It was very nerve-wracking,” Union City head coach Linda Antenucci said. “We’re letting them in the door there and Memorial’s a good team and you can’t let them in the door. Momentum swings and anything can happen in a deciding game. I don’t want momentum to swing that way.”
“They didn’t quit, they didn’t give up. I hope that continues,” Memorial head coach John Wengerter said. “If that’s the way they’re going to fight and we continue to build upon (our talent) to build our program on that, we’re going to be alright.”
Playing in what Wengerter felt was one of his team’s best matches of the season, the Tigers raced out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first game. Memorial would later go on a 5-0 run to take the first game with Danny Baez leading the way. The sophomore had had four of his six blocks in the opening game.
“Usually we don’t win the first one, but to take that first game was a big up for us,” Wengerter said. “It’s a shame we just couldn’t continue on in the next two games.”
“It’s always difficult when you lose the first,” Joubert said. “We’ve been in that position before and we’ve just got to move past that.”
Union City would rebound from the tough start. Senior Julian Diaz had two kills and a pair of blocks to jumpstart an 8-1 run late in the second game.
In the third, the Soaring Eagles took control with an 8-1 run to take a 12-5 lead. Union City then put the Tigers on the brink of defeat with a 7-2 run, capped off by a pair of Joubert kills. The 6-foot-3 outside hitter had five kills and three blocks in the final game and he finished with a match-high 13 kills to go with seven blocks.
“At times it doesn’t looks like he’s about to hit anything really hard and he winds up downing the ball,” said Antenucci about Joubert’s deceptive power. “It’s like a silent killer.”
Diaz had 12 kills and six digs. Flavio Martinez added seven kills and seven blocks. Andres Martinez and Michael Mora contributed 23 and 14 assists respectively.
Memorial, which starts just one senior and has six sophomores which see significant playing time, was led by Carpio’s 11 kills and six blocks. Eight of the junior’s kills came in the third game.
Fellow junior Mike Acosta had nine kills and five blocks. Sophomores Martin Rodriguez and Inolis Santana added 16 and 12 assists respectively.
Junior Mike Acosta had nine kills and five blocks for Memorial.
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
|
| Union City Soaring Eagles (8-5) | 21 |
25 |
25 |
| Memorial Tigers (1-8) | 25 |
16 |
21 |