Riding a wave of momentum through the opening weekend of the SoCal Cup League, MB Surf 16 ASICS powered to a perfect 5-0 record in the Gold 1 Division, showcasing the kind of resilience and versatility that defines championship volleyball.
Under the direction of head coach Chris Morikawa, this squad navigated a mix of blowouts and a gritty comeback, dropping just one set overall to stamp their authority early in the 16/15 division.
The Surf wasted no time asserting dominance in their first matchup, moving past Balboa 15 White with ease (25-13, 25-10). Building on that foundation, MB Surf turned the intensity up against SMBC West 15 Molten, delivering a rout (25-9, 25-7) fueled by aggressive serving and transition kills.
The wins kept coming in a shutdown of ECVBA 15-1 (25-11, 25-9), where MB Surf's middles dominated with quick sets and stuff blocks, creating mismatches that led to run-away scoring stretches.
But the weekend's true test arrived against 897 B16 Black, where the Surf faced adversity head-on in a three-set thriller. Dropping the opener (22-25), they flipped the script with stellar back-row digs and timely kills from the outside hitters to storm back (25-17, 15-10). It was a comeback masterminded by Morikawa's adjustments, underscoring the team's toughness and ability to elevate in crunch time.
As the SoCal Cup heats up, MB Surf 16 ASICS has served notice under Morikawa's leadership. Keep an eye on the Surf as the season surges forward.