January 24, 2024

Season Preview: Fully Healed, WU Ready for Another Shot at Cal Pac Title

By Francisco Claudio

The Westcliff men's volleyball team is ready for another shot at the Cal Pac title after having reached the championship match last year against the formidable force that is Benedictine Mesa.

Two years ago the Warriors also fell in the program's first-ever playoff appearance.

Now the Warriors are determined to make another run and to get over the huge hill of defeating Ben U.

Why do I bring up Ben U?

That's because the Redhawks have never lost a Cal Pac men's volleyball match since joining the conference. An impressive record of 44-0.

So Westcliff will most likely have to get past the Redhawks if they want to be the last team standing come April.

Last season, during their second meeting of the regular season the Warriors were able to take them to a fifth and final set where they lost a heartbreaker, 15-12.

But with many key returners this year for the Warriors, those moments will have served as invaluable experience and motivation moving forward.

Westcliff head coach Alex Griffiths feels good about her group of athletes and their preparation so far.

"We feel comfortable," Griffiths said. "We have the majority of the team returning along with new athletes that fit into the culture we have established.

"Our goals never changed. Perform well together within our system. When we do this we will accomplish the Cal Pac Championship & NAIA National title."

Subtle, and straight to the point. It's time to win.

Last year the Warriors had a respectable record, (14-11, Cal Pac 10-2).

Fortunately, many of the key returners this year have kept themselves busy and in great conditions playing for the beach volleyball program.

They just won the AVCA National Championship to make it back-to-back national titles.

Hungry for more from the positive results of playing beach volleyball and motivated by the sour taste of last year's defeat, the Warriors look like a force to be reckoned with this year.

The returners:

Gabriel Pizza who was the freshman of the year is back.

Pawel Tuz and Mohamed Ilias Lazaar earned second-team honors last season.

Leonardo Garcia earned an honorable mention.

The senior veterans that make up the team are Thomas Taufetee, Mike Massaki, Tj Meyer, Trevor Lau, Mike Schoffstall, and Andy Jaszczynski.

The Warriors picked up some key pieces in Tom Dempsey, a libero/OH, and transfers Connor McCann and Kajus Mazuronis.

"We are comfortable with each other," Griffiths said. "We have had a year of playing together. We are smoother & more fluid."

The team is ready to go and will get their first shot at competition as they travel to Parkville, Missouri this week.

They will participate in the Pirate Invitational and play four teams in two days.

Then they will come back to play against Hope International at their gym before the Warriors host their first game at home.

Westcliff's first home game will be Friday, February 9th, against OUAZ at 6:00 PM.

All home games for the Warriors will take place at the Jordan Lawley Gym in Irvine, California.

This is an experienced and talented team who is hungry to make it count this season, so come out and support the Warriors as they begin their 2024 Cal Pac title journey.