Gronbach’s Career High Not Enough Against Fullerton

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College suffered a 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23) loss to visiting Fullerton on Wednesday night at the ECC Gym Complex.

Sophomore Garrett Gronbach had a career night, logging 20 kills on 38 swings with just three errors for a .447 attack percentage. It was his first career 20-kill performance in his two seasons with the Warriors and his attack percentage was his second best of his career with at least 20 attempts. He hit at a .455 clip on Friday in a win at L.A. Pierce. He also recorded 10 digs on Wednesday night to log his first double-double of the season.

Owen Loebs added 11 kills and Jordan Jotie logged a double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs to go along with four blocks and four kills.

For the Hornets, Shon Schugk led the way with 11 kills and Evan Shank logged a double-double with 31 assists and 16 digs.

The Warriors never led in the first set despite their best efforts to overcome an early Fullerton run. They tied the score five times but could never get past the Hornets in the frame.

In the second, Gronbach and Loebs combined for eight of the Warriors' nine kills in the set and the Hornets attacked at a negative percentage as ECC tied the match up at a set apiece.

In the third set, no team led by more than three points until a service ace from Eli Morales gave the Hornets a 23-19 lead late in the game. But the Warriors ran off three straight points to cut the deficit to one. Unfortunately, kills from Noah Spelman and Samuel Chavez secured the set for the Hornets.

The Warriors started off the fourth set hot, scoring the first three points of the frame and they built a 17-12 lead. But the Hornets outscored the Warriors 13-6 the rest of the way to take the game and secure the match.

The Warriors will return to action on Friday night with a road game at Santa Monica.