Warriors Overcome Big Hole to Beat Fullerton in Five

TORRANCE, Calif. – El Camino College had to come all the way back and dodge a match point Wednesday night but pulled through with a 3-2 (17-25, 13-25, 25-19, 27-25, 15-8) win over visiting Fullerton at the ECC South Gym.

The Warriors dropped the first two sets and trailed by as much as 13 in the second set before making their move in the third to start the comeback. Matthew Donatucci led the way offensively with 15 kills and just six errors on the night to go along with seven blocks (one solo). Joseph Sico dished out 43 assists and Kevin Le had nine kills and a team high 11 digs.

The play at the net was a big difference for the Warriors in keying their comeback. They tallied just one team block in the first set and again in the second set. In the third they tallied six block assists and one solo block as they pulled away from the Hornets to get back in the match.

The fourth set was a back and forth affair with neither team able to gain a stranglehold on the frame. The Hornets had the first match point of the night at 24-23 but a blocking error on a swing from Noah Carrol pulled the Warriors even.

The match would lock up at 25-25 before Le and Donatucci recorded consecutive kills to secure the set and send the match to a decisive fifth set.

In the final frame, the Warriors jumped out to a 6-1 lead and they never looked back with Donatucci slamming the door with the final kill of the night as the Warriors completed the comeback.

The Warriors will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 21 as they host L.A. Pierce at the ECC South Gym.