May 17 Notebook - California Interscholastic Federation (2024)

Posted: May 17, 2024

SO MUCH has happened in boys volleyball between last Friday’s Notebook and today. Section titles have been determined, regional brackets released and two rounds of regional play have been completed, which have determined Saturday’s 16 finalists across four divisions and two regions.

Phew!

Let’s start with the Section champs…

Crowning achievements
One week ago Thursday, the Central and North Coast Sections determined their champions for 2024, recaps of which appeared in last Friday’s Notebook.

In the two days that followed, the other six sections that hold boys' volleyball tournaments determined their champions. The recaps appear below.

Southern Section

The top two teams in the state met for the Div. 1 title, with No. 1 Loyolawinning three close sets from Mira Costato capture its record 13^th section title all-time and seventh under current Hall of Fame coach Michael Boehle. Loyola had not won since 2016.

Senior OH Sean Kelly, widely considered the best prep player in the country, led the Cubs with 15 kills and his serving put immense pressure on the Mustang back line.

Loyola tied for third in last year’s Div. 1 tournament but rebounded to win the Southern California Div. I Regional title over Southern Section champion Newport Harbor.

Alex Heinsand Victor Loiolateamed for 27 kills in the loss for Mira Costa, which was seeking its ninth section title.

Mira Costa also lost to Loyola in a regular-season match on March 22.

Ethan Sainthad 24 kills and freshman setter Chase Wallin delivered 33 assists to lead Santa Margarita Catholicpast top-seeded Redondo Union, 25-21, 26-24, 25-18, for the Div. 2 title.

The Eagles won all four of their playoff matches by sweep to capture their fourth section title, but first since 2001.

Bobby Bennetthad 12 kills and Shane Friedmanhad 33 assists for Redondo, which was playing for a title for the first time in 18 years. The Sea Hawks have only two senior starters.

Stanford signee Reed Wainrighthad 23 kills to lift St. Margaret’sover San Clemente in straight sets for the Div. III crown. The match pitted a Tartan team that had won 15 in a row coming into the match versus a Triton team that was riding a 13-match winning streak.

St. Margaret’s won its second title in three years. The Tartans finished second in Div. 3 a year ago.

“The Tartans had a peak effort in the CIF Southern Section Final,” said coach Bob Yoder. “The team did not drop a set throughout the entire playoff effort (5 matches).”

West Ranchedged Foothill League foe Valenciaof Valencia, 25-23, 30-28, 26-24, for the Div. 4 title, avenging two regular-season defeats.

Junior OH Noah Douphner, one of the most prolific attackers in the state, had 18 kills, including the clincher, to give the Wildcats their first-ever section title. Logan Sanchezadded eight kills and got key touches along the net.

“Playing in front of a standing-room-only crowd at College of the Canyons against our biggest rival was a surreal experience,” said West Ranch coach Brandon Johnson. “To be able to shake off two regular season losses and come through when it mattered most is an amazing feeling. It's a special group of boys that not only brought home the first CIF Boys Volleyball title in school history but also won the CIF Southern Section Academic Award this year. They are champions on and off the court.”

Seniors Jet Ricksand Jared Pascuacombined for 26 kills in the loss.

Jackson Cryst, a 6-10 junior OH, slammed home 53 kills and senior setter Brayden Brienhad 60 assists to lead Sage Hillover San Marinoin five sets (15-13 in the fifth) for the Div. 5 title, the first for the Lightning. Cryst had 10 of his kills in the final set.

Ryan Wang, Casey Chan, and Luca Moggioplayed valiantly for San Marino in the loss.

Samueli Academywon the Div. 6 title in a sweep of Riverside Polyon Friday evening. Not only was this the first boys volleyball title for the Firewolves; it marked the first Southern Section championship in any sport in the school’s 11-year history!

Isaac Ramirezand David Zaratecombined for 28 kills for the victors.

Micah Mackenziehad 14 kills and Ryan Merandiadded 39 assists to lead Ontario Christianpast Avalonin straight sets for the Div. 7 title. The victorious Knights, who also got nine kills and five blocks from Simon Koontzand seven kills each from Angelo Martinezand Josh Converse, won their first championship in program history.

Los Angeles Section

Chatsworth celebrates a second consecutive Open Division title in the Los Angeles Section

Justin Dickson, Grant Chang, and Chase Dunnteamed for 32 kills to help top-seeded Chatsworthovercome Eagle Rockin five sets for the Open Division title. The Chancellors won their third title in four years and 11^th overall.

“I’m proud of our group for what they were able to accomplish this past weekend,” said coach Sina Aghassy.“To have been able to win it last year with a handful of great leaders and seniors and adding a lot of youth (two sophom*ores and a freshman) in the lineup this year, it's been incredible to watch the growth.It was exciting to watch the level of growth from a younger team to claim back-to-back titles and four consecutive trips to the finals!”

Tom Altankhuyaghad 48 kills and Jaiden Ablinghad 41 assists in the loss.

Venicewon its first championship in more than 30 years, defeating Birmingham in four sets in Div. I. Noah Smith paced the Gondoliers with 19 kills, while Nathan Hoggattadded 14 kills and three blocks and Clay Takahashi had 40 assists.

***

Grant, Hamilton, Larchmont Charterand Magnolia Science Academy Van Nuys won titles in Div. II through V, respectively. Each won its first championship.

San Diego Section

Torrey Pinesgot 23 kills and 10 digs from star Christian Connelland prevailed at deuce in the first two sets on its way to a sweep of two-time defending champion Cathedral Catholic for the Open Division title. The Falcons had not won a championship since 1993.

“I am so proud of this group of young men,” said coach Nick Rubacky. “Their dedication to the program and each other has yielded the greatest season in Torrey Pines volleyball history. I am so happy that this senior class has gotten to see four years of hard work pay off. I couldn’t ask for a greater group of guys and I am so humbled to be a part of this journey with them.”

Ryan Enoshad 17 kills to lead the Dons.

La Costa Canyonswept Santa Fe Christianfor the Division I title. The Mavericks’ 16^th win of the season (against 19 losses) netted them the 16^th SDS title in program history.

Lucas Daleand Carson Balleach had 11 kills for LCC. Finley Gilmorefinished with 15 kills for SFC.

Mission Vistadropped the first set of the Div. II final to Canyon Crest Academybefore storming back to take the next three in capturing the first championship in program history.

Brody Hagenahhad 23 kills to lead the Timberwolves, who also twice defeated CCA during the regular season. Henry Garewaland Andrew Chencombined for 25 kills in the loss for the Ravens.

High Tech Highwon its first-ever title by toppling Coronadoin four sets in Division III. Isaiah Gutierrez had a match-high 17 kills for the Storm, which lost to Coronado during the regular season.

Foothills Christianrallied from behind in all three sets to sweep The Cambridge Schoolto repeat as Div. IV champions. Hunter Hamilton, a 6-5 sophom*ore outside hitter, led the effort with 25 kills for the Knights.

Jonathan Holed The Cambridge School, which has fewer than 100 students, with 17 kills and three aces.

Central Coast Section

Valley Christianrallied from a set down to topple Santa Cruzin four sets for the Open Division title, its second in a row. The Warriors had been 1-2 versus Santa Cruz before Saturday’s match, but used 19 Tyler Aldenkills and 47 Andy Xuassists to prevail.

Santa Cruz got 14 kills and four aces from Juju Pallyin the loss.

Leighcaptured its first section title, rallying from down two sets to one to defeat Bellarmine College Prepin five in Div. I.

OH Xace Leem was fantastic for the Longhorns, who’d come up short in three prior finals appearances. The senior had 20 kills, hitting .400, and passed a 2.43 on 54 receptions! Junior RS Cooper Smithhad 12 kills and freshman setter Eric Wucontributed 45 assists, six kills, and an ace.

Monta Vistaswept Aragonin Div. II to capture its second section title over the past three years. Elijah Kangand Henry Hucombined for 25 kills and Praneel Shahhad 36 assists for the champs.

Sac-Joaquin Section

Pleasant Groveshook off two regular-season losses to Jesuitto win a thriller, 16-14 in the fifth, for the Division 1 title. OH Logan Delmundo, libero Jayden Sagaral, and OH Tin Leled the way for the Eagles, who played without top middle Ajit Randhawa (knee). Delmundo had the match-winning kill.

Keegan McManus, one of three senior starters for Jesuit, led the Marauders with 25 kills. Freshman setter Nolan Marks, one of several youngsters in the starting lineup, contributed 45 assists and 18 digs.

Rio Americano, which returned virtually its entire roster from a year ago, fulfilled its mission by winning CIF in Div. 2 in straight sets over Del Oro.

The Raiders, led by outsides Joey Thalkenand Grayson Albersand setter Shane Newberry– all seniors – dominated for long stretches against a Del Oro team that got nice production from middles Seth Wilhelmand Hayden Yarnes.

Blocking superiority and phenomenal back row defense helped propel Christian Brotherspast Vandenin four close sets for the Div. 3 crown.

Freshman libero Jacoby Rugnao, setter Nolan Nguyen, senior outside hitter Hunter Marcantonio, and sophom*ore RS Phillip Morozovled the way for the victors. Morozov led CB from behind in Game 4 and was unstoppable down the stretch.

Junior setter Tavas Spencerand senior OH Christian Ting played well for Vanden in the loss.

Senior OH Alex Esirscored on attack and behind the service line for Futures, which rallied from a dropped first set to defeat Ben Holtin four to repeat as Div. 4 champions.

Senior libero Gabriel Fernandezshowed out in the loss for Ben Holt.

San Francisco Section

Lowellwon its third section title in a row, in five over rival Lincoln, which had won the previous three titles. The Cardinals trailed two sets to one before rallying for the win.

[More information on this match was not received by publication time]

On Sunday, the CIF State office announced the pairings for its NorCal and Southern California Regional Tournaments in four divisions. Eight teams each – 64 total – were assigned a place in a bracket, with regional quarterfinals on Tuesday, semifinals last night and championship matches to be played on Saturday. Teams from the San Francisco, Oakland, Central Coast, North Coast, and Sac-Joaquin Sections filled most of the NorCal brackets, with teams from the San Diego, Los Angeles, and Southern Sections taking most of the spots in the Southern California brackets. Central Section teams went in both directions, determined largely by geography.

Which regional division each team found themselves in was determined by equity, the goal being to create competitive brackets. Those deemed best were seeded into Division I and so forth.

Last year, only four sections captured all eight of the regional titles, as follows:

NorCal
Div. I – Clovis East(CS)
Div. II – Sanger(CS)
Div. III – Carlmont(CCS)
Div. IV – Branham(CCS)

Southern California
Div. I – Loyola(SS)
Div. II – El Segundo(SS)
Div. III – Poway(SDS)
Div. IV – Granite Hills(SDS)

Will there be broader representation among champions in 2024? The finalists:

NorCal
Div. I – Valley Christian (CCS) v. Archbishop Mitty(CCS)
Div. II – Jesuit(SJS) v. Rio Americano(SJS)
Div. III – Monta Vista(CCS) v. Leigh (CCS)
Div. IV – Bellarmine College Prep(CCS) v. Vanden(SJS)

Southern California
Div. I – Loyola(SS) v. Mira Costa (SS)
Div. II – Redondo Union(SS) v. St. Margaret’s(SS)
Div. III – La Costa Canyon(SDS) v. West Ranch(SS)
Div. IV – Arroyo Grande (CS) v. Grant(LAS)

Regional prelims

We don’t have time to recap all of the quarterfinal and semifinal matches across two regions and four divisions (48 matches total); let’s look at trends and results regarded as upsets on paper.

Sometimes results don’t make sense and that’s the case here. Valley Christian, the CCS Open Division champs, won twice, as expected, to reach the final. The other results, however, were unexpected. In two of the quarterfinals, Archbishop Mittyupended top-seeded Clovisand Sanger defeated Saint Francis of Mountain View. Saint Francis was 2-0 versus Mitty on the year and Clovis had just defeated Sanger for the Central Section Div. I title. So now you had Mitty defeating Clovis, which defeated Sanger, which beat Saint Francis, which twice beat Mitty.

Make it make sense!

Mitty’s road win over Clovis was in straight sets, the last two at deuce.

“We had a great game plan against them and stayed aggressive and in control the whole match,” said Monarch head coach Lacey Gera Anderson.

Clovis looked like it might crawl back into the match up 24-20 in the third, but a deep corner kills and massive stuff block from 6-6 junior OH William Dryden got Mitty back in the set. Alain Malcolm, a 6-5 senior middle, followed with an ace. Malcolm served out the match, as Mitty sandwiched another kill and block from Dryden around a Clovis hitting error to clinch advancement.

“It was a tremendous team effort last night, and our determination to win, stay in control, and execute our roles was abundantly clear,” Gera Anderson said.

Archbishop Mitty continued its run by defeating host Santa Cruzlast night in the semifinals in four sets. The Monarchs had been 0-3 versus Santa Cruz this year, including a four-set loss in the same venue in the CCS semifinals just one week before, but won an epic second set, 35-33, to take command and held off the Cardinals.

Dryden had 17 kills and Zach Flynnadded 15, including the clincher in the fourth set, to spur Mitty’s advance.

The big takeaway from this division is the rise of the Sac-Joaquin Section at the expense of the North Coast Section. The SJS got quarterfinal wins from Jesuit, Pleasant Grove, and Rio Americano, while the NCS saw Castro Valley and Campolindolose to SJS foes and top-seeded Northgatelose to San Luis Obispo of the Central Section in a major surprise.

Jesuit, runner-up in SJS Div. 1; and Rio American, champion in SJS Div. 2, advanced to the finals with wins last night. Rio swept past Pleasant Grove, 26-24, 30-28, 25-20. Pleasant Grove defeated Jesuit last week for the SJS Div. 1 title.

Monta Vistawas 16-13 entering the CCS playoffs but has now won five straight post-season matches to reach the Div. III finals, including last night’s semifinal upset win over Moreau Catholic, 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 25-22. Moreau Catholic had been undefeated at home on the year.

Monta Vista, the CCS Div. II champions will take on CCS Div. I champion Leigh for the title. Leigh beat Del Oroof the SJS last night after the Golden Eagles (18-18) surprised Aragonof the CCS in the quarterfinals. Leigh got strong serving from RS Cooper Smithin its semifinal win.

Bellarmine College Prepstarted the season 0-4 and had two in-season runs of three losses in a row, but the Bells (19-18) have been very competitive of late and, on Thursday, knocked off Lincolnof San Francisco to claim their place in the regional final opposite Vanden, which edged KIPP Kingof the Oakland Section.

JJ Bartonhad 23 kills and 12 digs in Bellarmine’s win.

Mira Costahead coach Greg Snydersaid that his team would be limping into Regional play after being dominated by Loyolain the Southern Section Div. 1 final, but his resilient Mustangs are finals-bound after impressive wins over the best of San Diego – Cathedral Catholicin the quarterfinals and Torrey Pinesin the semis, both in sweeping fashion. They’ll get another crack at Loyola in the final. The Cubs were similarly dominant in two wins, including last night over Corona del Mar, which had to win the last two sets in the quarterfinals to edge Huntington Beach.

Redondo Union, which has never won a Southern Section title, can win a regional crown after an impressive semifinal showing against Carlsbad. The Sea Hawks, in only their second regional appearance, will meet Southern Section Div. 3 champion St. Margaret’safter the Tartans beat San Clementein the other semifinal, their second win over the Tritons in five days.

West Ranch’slate-season surge continues. The Wildcats (27-11) have now won 13 matches in a row following yesterday’s come-from-behind win over Mission Vista. West Ranch’s opponent is a surprise: La Costa Canyon. LCC is under .500 on the year and had been 0-3 versus Sage Creekthis spring before stunning the Bobcats in four sets on the road last night. Right sides Carson Balland Jayden Magnincombined for 25 kills and four stuff blocks in the win.

The only five-set semifinal matches came in this division.

Grantof Van Nuys, the Los Angeles Section Div. II champion; edged San Diego Section Div. III champ High Tech High, 19-17 in the fifth.

Arroyo Grande, the Central Section Div. II champions knocked off San Diego Section Div. IV champion Foothills Christian, 18-16 in the fifth.

Every set of the AG/Foothills match was close. Foothills Christian took charge of Game 1 with a 6-0 run to go up 20-14, but Arroyo Grande scored 10 of the next 13 points to earn set point at 24-23. Foothills Christian, winners of 10 matches in a row coming into the match, responded with the final three points to take the set, two on kills from 6-4 senior middle Logan Hamilton.

Game 2 went to host Arroyo Grande, 25-21. Tied at 13-13, the Eagles took the lead for good on kills from Gavin Ramseyand Banny Wentzeland won on a kill from Jack Nall.

Arroyo Grande also took the third set, 25-20, sparked by a scintillating mid-game display from jumping jack middle Garrett Marin, who had five consecutive kills for the Eagles to turn a 13-10 lead into an 18-12 bulge.

AG threatened to put the match away with a 5-0 run to start Game 4, but Foothills Christian rallied behind the strong right arm of sophom*ore OH Hunter Hamilton. He had eight kills in the set, including the Knights’ final two in the 25-22 win, to send the match to a fifth and deciding set.

The fifth set started like the fourth, with Arroyo Grande surging to a big early lead, capped by the first of three MASSIVE stuff blocks from Wentzel. Foothills Christian shook off those blocks to grab a 9-7 lead on kills from Hunter Hamilton and Blake Garberand the game went into the late stages tied at 12-12. Foothills took the lead on a Dylan Gasconblock only to see Ramsey, who had 22 kills in the match; respond with two in a row, off of assists from Gavin Jones, to put the Eagles one point from the win.

Arroyo Grande’s first chance to advance was squandered by a serving error, but Wentzel’s two-handed kill gave the Eagles match point No. 2 at 15-14. AG, by all rights, should have clinched the match on the next rally, but a bail-out, desperation rainbow from Hunter Hamilton found the corner for his 28th kill of the night. The teams were tied once more at 15-15.

Foothills Christian earned its only match point after an Arroyo Grande hitting error, but Jones went right back to Liam LaCabe, who delivered not once but twice to put AG back on top. LaCabe then got his mitts on Foothills Christian’s final attack to complete the stunning win.

“It’s pretty wild,” said Arroyo Grande first-year head coach Tyson Kerr. “It was so much fun! I think we won. That’s what the scoreboard says.”

Indeed, at the end it was thrill of victory, agony of defeat stuff, for both teams, from one point to the next.

“That’s why we play the game,” Kerr said. “Those who have played long enough understand the agony. I feel for San Diego. Love that San Diego team!”

NorCal
DI -- Valley Christian v. Archbishop Mitty – Valley owns a 2-1 record versus its WCAL rivals this year
DII – Jesuit v. Rio Americano – The teams have not played this year. Rio was No. 2 in the most recent North Region rankings put out by CIF State. Jesuit was No. 3
DIII – Monta Vista v. Leigh – Xace Leemand Liam Popejoyhad eight kills each the only time these teams met this year, a 25-23, 25-16 tournament win for Leigh on April 6
DIV – Bellarmine College Prep v. Vanden – The two teams, both runners-up in their respective sections, have neither played nor have common opponents this year.

Southern California
DI – Loyola v. Mira Costa – Loyola, the defending regional champs, is 2-0 versus Costa this year. The match pits the top two teams in the state
DII – Redondo v. St. Margaret’s – The teams have not played this year. Redondo lost to Santa Margarita Catholicin the Southern Section Div. 2 final. St. Margaret’s beat San Clementefor the Div. 3 title. San Clemente then swept Santa Margarita in the quarterfinal round
DIII – La Costa Canyon v. West Ranch – Two hot teams to end the season, West Ranch won a tournament matchup in March by taking two overscore sets. The Wildcats did not play with star hitter Noah Douphner
DIV – Arroyo Grande v. Grant (Van Nuys) – The teams have not met. AG won a five-set match over the SDS Div. IV champion; Grant defeated the SDS Div. III champion, also in five

50 assists in a match
30 kills in a match
30 digs in a match
10 blocks in a match
10 aces in a match

Here’s what we have so far…

Yun Bae, 6-1 Sr. S/RS, Foothill (Pleasanton) – 11 assists, 10 kills, 10 digs on Feb .22 versus Campolindo
Victor Camba, 5-11 Sr. S/RS, Indian Springs – 10 kills, 10 assists, 10 digs on March 18 versus Norte Vista
Kaden Hutcherson, 6-2 Sr. OH, Antelope -- 10 kills, 13 aces, 12 digs at Yuba City on April 9
Stevie Olson, 6-3 Sr. S/RS, San Dieguito Academy – 11 kills, 10 digs, 22 aces on April 19 versus La Jolla (also had seven blocks)
Colt Schmidt, 6-2 Jr. OH, Desert Christian – 10 aces, 19 kills, 14 digs on March 1 versus Vasquez
Colt Schmidt, 6-2 Jr. OH, Desert Christian – 12 aces, 20 kills, 11 digs on April 11 versus St. Monica
Wyatt Silver, 6-3 Jr. S, Dos Pueblos -- 10 kills, 11 digs, 34 assists on Feb. 22 versus Valencia (Valencia)

Nathan Yurchenko, 6-0 Sr. S/RS, Antelope -- 15 kills, 24 assists, 20 digs versus Woodcreek on March 19
Nathan Yurchenko, 6-0 Sr. S/RS, Antelope – 13, kills, 24 assists, 15 digs on March 21 versus Inderkum

We are also compiling a list of season-long stat stars, with these thresholds:

450 or more kills
500 or more digs
900 or more assists
125 or more blocks
80 or more aces

Here’s what we have so far…

862 – Tom Altankhuyag, 6-6 Sr. OH, Eagle Rock
567 – Gavin Ramsey, 6-1 Sr. RS, Arroyo Grande
538 – Luke Nobrega, 6-2 Sr. OH, De La Salle
518 – Parker Tomkinson, 7-0 Sr. OH, Carlsbad
509 -- Noah Douphner, 6-5 Jr. OH, West Ranch
499 -- Jacob Mello, 6-2 Jr. OH, Avalon
456 – Riggs Guy, 6-3 Sr. OH, Newport Harbor

722 --Uriel Gonzalez, 5-7 Jr. libero, Avalon
518 – Sutter Swope, 5-10 Sr. libero, Woodcreek
514-- Henry Wegener, 5-10 Jr. libero, San Dieguito Academy

1,246 -- Grayson Springborn, 6-1 Sr. S, Newport Harbor
1,104 -- Donovan Weber,6-2 Sr. S, Westview, San Diego
1,092 -- Ben Saurewine, 6-3 Soph, S, Carlsbad
1,031 – Nolan Marks, 5-10 Fr. S, Jesuit
981 – Jaiden Abling, 6-0 Sr. S, Eagle Rock

146 - Oliver Doty, 6-7 Jr. MB, Carlsbad
130 - Roman Payne, 6-11 Jr. MB, Carlsbad