Samson, Chargers down Gaels

Clark setter David Samson is convinced each volleyball match is won or lost on a single point.

The senior team captain played that way Wednesday.

Samson notched 32 assists, four blocks and four aces to lead the Chargers to a 25-22, 18-25, 25-21, 25-20 win at Bishop Gorman that has Clark off to a 2-0 start in Southwest League play.

“Everything can change on one point,” Samson said. “The game is played point by point. Every set is a set of three matches inside of it.”

The Chargers (3-3) have relied heavily on a strong opening set. Samson directed a 5-0 run Wednesday for a 22-16 lead in the first set, and the Chargers held for the early advantage after consecutive errors by the Gaels (0-2).

“It’s all about our enthusiasm. We have to get our start, get things going early,” Samson said. “We just have to make sure that we don’t give up.”

Gorman responded in the second set, as outside hitters Bobby Houser and Matt Lychock combined for four points during an 8-4 run that spurred the Gaels to a 25-18 win.

Lychock had a match-high 19 kills, and Houser chipped in 17 kills and 10 digs.

But the Chargers responded with a run of their own, jumping to a 9-1 start in the third set, then using a 7-1 balanced run to pull away.

“Last year, we would get ahead a lot and then we’d let them get on a five-point run or more,” Clark coach Linda Silver said. “We’re trying to slim that down to maybe one or two points, and that’s helping a lot. They’re not getting down as much when they get behind. They stay more positive.”

George Huang, who had 18 kills and two blocks, took over late to fuel Clark’s 6-2 run that put away the third set.

Huang, Clark’s other team captain, was the loudest on the floor during the final two sets with emphatic cheers and fist pumping as the Chargers got a huge boost from unlikely blocks by Samson and Joseph Wang, who added six kills and three aces.

“We emphasize (vocal leadership) a lot,” Silver said. “That’s what we’ve found with the last four years (with senior Huang). When they’re cheering and up and talking, they can play good. It’s when they’re quiet and don’t say anything that they get down.”

The Chargers, who clinched a playoff berth on the final match of the season last year before a first-round playoff exit, head into the weekend brimming with confidence after wins over Western and Gorman.

“It’s very big. It’s positive, and it should help our confidence,” Silver said. “We’re going to a tournament this weekend, and we know we’ll be playing the big teams. So this is a good win to let them see that they can compete with the higher-level teams. Hopefully they’ll be able to do that.”