Pacifica Christian O.C. boys’ volleyball hosts Brethren Christian in match with no fans

The sports world was well on its way to what amounted to a near-complete shutdown by Thursday due to fears over the novel coronavirus.

Private schools certainly were not immune to the impact. Pacifica Christian Orange County High is set to suspend all athletic activities for at least two weeks, beginning on Monday.

Before doing so, the Pacifica Christian boys’ volleyball team took the court one more time in a nonleague match against Brethren Christian.

With a cloud of uncertainty looming over the remainder of the season for spring sports, Pacifica Christian athletic director Brandon Gonzalez said that the contest was held with seniors in mind.

“Pacifica Christian was and still is following the guidelines of the California Department of [Public] Health, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], and the Orange County Health Department,” Gonzalez said.

Pacifica Christian, which will switch to online learning on Monday, was still holding on-campus classes as the week concluded.

“We felt it was safe for both Pacifica Christian and Brethren Christian student-athletes to have one final competition without fans,” Gonzalez said.

Tritons coach Tim Maruyama said that he asked his players independently of the school’s decision to play if they wanted to compete.

“I wanted to know what they wanted to do,” Maruyama said. “Their reactions were pretty unanimous in [saying], ‘Coach, we’re really excited. We want to go out with a bang. We want to play this match.’”

Pacifica Christian went on to win 25-14, 25-12, 25-17, with senior setter Caleb Snider providing 26 assists, 12 service aces and two blocks.

Sophomore outside hitter Knox Vail had 12 kills, and sophomore Bennett Penticuff had a 2.78 passing average at libero.

Maruyama characterized playing in an empty gym as eerie, but in bringing the junior varsity team along to join the bench, and eventually the action itself, there was enough enthusiasm to fill the void of having no fans.

If Pacifica Christian has played its last match of the season, Maruyama would be disappointed that his team does not get to finish what it started.

“I think it’s sad,” Maruyama said. “It’s tough as a competitor. We started off the season at 6-1. It’s my first year coaching at Pacifica [Christian], and we were able to build a pretty strong preseason program that was just kind of ramping up into season now.

“It’s definitely disheartening to have put in so much work and not being able to see it to fruition, but I think it’s for the best.”

Gonzalez said that when the decision was made to play the match as planned, he did not think that it would be the only game in town. His heart went out to the seniors who may have competed for their schools for the last time.

“My only thoughts are really thinking about all the seniors out there,” Gonzalez said. “Some of these kids may never have a chance to throw another shotput, or compete in a swim meet, or play in another gym. That is where my thoughts go.”

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