GROWING PAINS AS NORCO PULLS AWAY FOR THE WIN
September 16, 2026
Written by Brad Peters
RIVERSIDE: “Tonight was a test of what we will do when we face a hard task,” said King Head volleyball coach Michael Tongg after the home game against Norco handed King (17-3) its first loss in a while.
Norco played tough and took the first set which, to the credit of the Wolves, fired them up and saw them play solidly in sets 2 and 3.
Jael Moore again led the attack for King with 18 Kills, followed by Sam Miller with 8 Kills, 7 aces and 13 Digs. Brooklyn Nielsen and Mariah Eutsey 12 Digs. King was leading in the fourth set, but “relaxed” in Tongg’s estimation and Norco pulled away for the win, 3-2 (18-25, 25-13, 25-20, 27-29, 12-15)
“We are learning what it means to be a team that fights for one another,” reflected Tongg. “We are a family that is working to be its best and that comes with growing pains.”
The match was a struggle that saw King drop to 1-1 on the Big VIII league season. Leina Cadena admitted the team “struggled to be consistent.”
But Tongg saw a silver lining to the defeat. “We may not have won but we have a chance to take a look at who we are and what we want to become. The girls did some amazing things tonight, as frustrating as it is to lose, we are hopeful to see what this will do for our future growth.”
Sofia Galvansaid after the match that “We need to learn to push when it’s the most stressful.”
Good insight; an idea that not only applies to volleyball, but life too.
