L-R: Matt Alison, Will Dalgarn, Johnny Samuels. By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor For area volleyball programs, the moment they’ve been preparing for all year has finally arrived. The CIF-Southern Section playoffs begin tonight (Tuesday), and with solid play and a little luck, an area team could play up to three matches this week. Prep League […]
L-R: Matt Alison, Will Dalgarn, Johnny Samuels.
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
For area volleyball programs, the moment they’ve been preparing for all year has finally arrived.
The CIF-Southern Section playoffs begin tonight (Tuesday), and with solid play and a little luck, an area team could play up to three matches this week.
Prep League champion Flintridge Prep and second-place Poly each host matches tonight at 7.
Flintridge Prep (21-6) will host Oxnard (13-16-2) at 7 in a CIF-SS Division 3 match up.
The Rebels cruised through the first three quarters or so through the season, and then hit a speed bump.
Prep, though, looks to be back to form and rested.
“I think the guys are playing pretty well right now and are ready for the playoffs,’ coach Sean Beattie said. “I don’t know much about Oxnard except they are the third place team in a good league! I’m expecting them to be a very solid team. For us to be successful on Tuesday, it’s going to have to be a team effort, everyone is going to have to be on their game. We will look for AJ and Jonny to continue their strong play, but to win in the playoffs, it takes everyone working together.”
Beattie’s program is led by sophomore AJ Nicassio and senior Jonny Samuels.
Together, they have over 500 kills this season.
“Our first step is Tuesday versus Oxnard, and it won’t be easy,” Nicassio said. “I think we are capable of anything if we are all playing our best. We have so much talent on our team and I know that when we come together, we can win. But when we play together as a team, anything is possible.”
Majeed Ismail, Bruce Dennis, Jake Althouse and Garrett Gaines have also been key in Prep’s fifth consecutive Prep League championship.
“The playoffs are no joke, but when we are focused and come out with full on intensity we can compete at a very high level,” Samuels said. “When we are playing like that, I think the sky is the limit for our team.”
** Poly is heading into the playoffs as arguably the area’s hottest team.
The Panthers (11-9-1) will host Santa Ana Valley (15-10) in a CIF-SS Division 4 contest tonight at 7.
After losing their first two Prep League games of the season, Poly ran the rest of their slate unscathed, including a four-set victory over first-place Prep.
Poly coach Jack Prater gave us some insight on his Panthers:
“Matt Alison, on the outside, has had an all around great season both offensive
and defensively. His consistency has been crucial to us earning this first round home
playoff game. We’ll continue to lean on him heavily during the playoffs to see how far
he can take us.”
Poly lost to Santa Ana Valley last year in the wild-card game.
Said Prater: “We’re playing with a lot of confidence behind our seniors. We’re looking for our libero, J.T. Tsuchiya to continue to anchor our serve-receive. When we’re passing well, our middle hitter, Richard Berry, can be relentless in leading our quick attack, and help create opportunities for us offensively.
Our setter, Will McConnell, was out for the first three weeks of our season. Since his
return we’ve steadily shown improvement transitioning and he’s done a great
job of distributing the ball for us offensively.”
The Panthers will need contributions throughout its lineup, but Alison, a senior, knows much of the pressure lays on his shoulders.
“We’re a tall, athletic team that never gives up on a point and plays with a lot of energy and positivity,” Alison said. “We feel like we can compete against any team, and we’re going to take this one game at a time and see how far we can make it.”
** No team seemed to turn their fortunes around quite like La Salle.
The Lancers (12-11) began the season 1-8, and in their eight losses, La Salle won just four sets.
But one of the area’s best (boys and girls) volleyball coaches, Tiare Tuitama turned the season around.
La Salle went on to win 11 of their next 14 matches and were closing in on a Camino Real League title.
St. Anthony, though, ended the Lancers’ 8-match win streak in league on April 27 in a five-set road thriller.
That loss cost the Lancers a 213-mile bus ride today, as they head to Morro Bay (14-11) at 7 p.m in their CIF-SS Division 4 showdown.
“After winning senior night at home, we are looking forward to our first playoff game, and excited about a new goal,” Tuitama said. “The boys have been working hard at practice and are ready to play Morro Bay. I think this playoff game will be one of our toughest games, both mentally and physically. If we can compete on the road and after a four-hour bus ride, I think we are capable of going far in CIF. One serve, one set, one game at a time.”
La Salle has counted on Will Dalgarn all season and tonight will be no different.
“When we’re playing our best volleyball, we are a force to reckon with,” Dalgarn said. “We’ve put in the work, and it’s quite a sight to see all of our hard work come together. I’m excited to see what we can do, and we just have to trust the process and see how far we can go.”
