Youthful Bonanza spikes Cimarron in five sets

Zack Hall

Thursday, March 23, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

Because they have an inexperienced team, it would be an easy mistake to assume the Bonanza boys volleyball team could not compete with the rest of the teams in Las Vegas.

The Bengals proved to Cimarron-Memorial Wednesday that they can overcome their youth by beating the Spartans in five sets, 17-6, 9-15, 11-15, 15-13, 15-9 at Cimarron.

The win evened the Bengals' record at 3-3 as they earned their first Sunset Division win of the season.

"We'd like to think that they're able to compete with the tougher schools," said Bonanza coach Kip Sweikert. "Right now we are really young. I think if we have our heads into the game, we are able to compete with the more experienced schools."

Bonanza doesn't have a single player from last season's squad that finished third in the Sunset.

With only two seniors (neither of whom played much last year) and six juniors, the Bengals had to rely on scrappiness to beat the more experienced Spartans (2-4) squad.

Bonanza also was without its best hitter, Brett Cull, who missed Wednesday's game due to sickness.

"He's (Cull) our powerhouse," Sweikert said. "So we should really kill them next time, I hope."

The Bengals fought back from big deficits in the first game and a 2-1 set advantage in the fourth game, staving off Cimarron star hitter Mike Sagapolu, who had more than 20 kills.

Zach Taylor had 28 assists and nine kills for the Bengals. Eric Rice led the Bonanza assault with 19 kills.

"We are trying to get them ready, and try to finish better than last year," Sweikwert said. "We just keep encouraging them to play their hardest and be smart."

In the fifth set -- in which there are no sideouts -- Bonanza jumped out early by winning seven of the first 10 points.

On game point, Mike Esposito sent a ball through the middle of the court and through the Cimarron defense for the game-winning kill.