Jeremy Bass didn’t want to blame anyone but himself.
His Bronx Science girls volleyball team got off to a roaring start in the first set Monday against Columbus. The Wolverines were dominating the Explorers when Science was called for a rotation violation by referee Abraham Nieves.
Columbus came back to almost take the first set and the Explorers ended up winning the match, 23-25, 25-14, 25-20, at home in PSAL Bronx A1 girls volleyball.
“I take 100 percent responsibility,” Bass said. “The illegal substitution gave them life.”
The coach was trying to get Liza Jin Park, who has been out with an injured ankle, in to serve. Her mobility was lacking, but her strong service game was going to be at Science’s disposal Monday. Putting Park in at that point, though, was illegal in the Wolverines’ rotation.
Bronx Science (6-2) held a 19-10 lead in the first before Columbus (7-1) came all the way back to make it 23-22, and then 24-23. Eugenie Dubin’s tip gave the Wolverines the set victory, though. It would be the last time Science would hold a serious lead.
The Explorers took big leads in the second and third sets and, although, the Wolverines fought back in the third, they couldn’t completely close the gap. Bass said his team’s serve receive was mostly to blame.
“Ultimately, we were served out of the gym,” he said.
Science lost to Columbus in a similar match Oct. 2. The following day, though, the Wolverines beat Bronx A1-leading John F. Kennedy in the Tottenville tournament. Between then and now, Science has had its share of injury troubles. Anastasiya Shor just returned Friday against Lehman and Dominique Watt returned Monday.
“I think getting some practices as a unit under our belt would help,” Bass said.
Dubin had seven kills and Shor, Watt, Juliana Kwan and Razoumova each had four kills for the Wolverines. Rachel Ng had nine assists, Kwan had eight assists and Baron had five aces. The loss puts Bronx Science behind the 8-ball in Bronx A1, but it still plays division leader Kennedy the last two matches of the regular season.
“I think that we’re somewhere behind Kennedy and Columbus now,” Bass said. “I think that’s how we have to look at it.”
