Leo Pravednikov after his standout match against Poly
Wilson boys’ volleyball coach Jeremy Cook was excited for this Moore League boys’ volleyball season, and it’s increasingly clear why. His Bruins moved to 3-0 on the season Monday afternoon at home against Long Beach Poly, as they dispatched the Jackrabbits 25-16, 25-16, 25-19.
Wilson is undefeated having played all of the other top teams in the league once now in Poly, Millikan, and Lakewood, and will finish the first round of league play on Tuesday at home against Cabrillo.
“I’m really lucky because my guys were working out when we weren’t allowed to play, they were hopeful that this would happen,” said Cook. “I think we were fortunate that when the season did come, they weren’t surprised, they were ready to go.”
The Bruins are No. 4-ranked in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 poll and were hosting a Jackrabbit team ranked No. 8. Wilson led wire to wire thanks to big performances from Leo Pravednikov (18 kills, 3 aces), Payne Lounsbery (8 kills), Max Cherin (7 kills), and Fletcher Garrett (6 kills, 4 aces).
“We were excited that we started with these big three teams because we’ve been practicing and we wanted to show them who we are right in the beginning,” said Pravednikov, who added that the strength of his team was its well-rounded roster.
“Our strengths are all over,” he said. “We have great liberos, outside, middles, we just feel like we have a perfect person in every spot on the court.”
Poly was led by Robert Jones and Malcolm King, but struggled to overcome Wilson’s crisp passing and high-tempo offense.
