Wilson's Ian Nolte, 24, defeats Santa Margarita College's Chase Wallin, 3, during the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs at Santa Margarita High School in Rancho Santa Margarita. He spiked the ball past the defense of Brendan Rervas (10 years old) and Brendan Relvas (10 years old). Wednesday, May 1, 2024 (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
CIF-SS Boys Volleyball Championship
Friday
division 6
Samueli Academy (28-3) vs. Riverside Poly (26-9)
Where and when: Riverside Poly High, 6 p.m.
Outlook: Samueli Academy, a private school in Santa Ana that opened in 2013, advanced to the CIF-SS boys volleyball finals for the first time. The Academy League champion Firewolves advance to the finals on a 15-game winning streak. In the playoffs, they defeated Bassett 3-0 in the first round, Rio Hondo Prep 3-1 in the second round, Tahquitz 3-1 in the quarterfinals, and top-seeded Malibu 3-0 in the semifinals. Riverside Poly finished in second place in the Sun Belt League. Riverside Poly advanced to the Division 6 final by defeating Liberty, Montebello, Lancaster and Costa Mesa in the semifinals.
Saturday
division 5
San Marino (26-6-1) vs. Sage Hill (23-8)
Where and when: Cerritos College, 10 a.m.
Outlook: Sage Hill will be competing in the CIF-SS boys volleyball finals for the first time. The Lightning, who finished second in the Pacific Coast League, defeated Fullerton 3-1 in the first round of the playoffs, defeated Camarillo 3-2 in the second round, and defeated second-seeded Rancho Verde 3-3 in the quarterfinals. -1 and defeated Flintridge Prep 3-1. 0 points in the semi-finals. Rio Hondo League co-champion and fourth-seeded San Marino defeated all of its opponents in the playoffs: Oakwood in the first round, Glendale Adventist in the second round, El Rancho in the quarterfinals, and Rio in the semifinals. Mesa).
division 3
San Clemente (28-6) vs. St. Margarets (33-4)
Where and when: Cerritos College, 12:30 p.m.
Outlook: South Coast League champion San Clemente last appeared in the CIF-SS boys volleyball finals in 2003. The Tritons won the sport's only CIF-SS title in 1976, the third year of the men's volleyball championship. San Clemente, the top seed in the playoffs, defeated Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks 3-0 in the first round, Oak Park College 3-0 in the second round, College 3-1 in the quarterfinals and El Dorado College 3-3 in the semifinals. We defeated them 0-0. Tritons junior outside hitter Jack Roper, who attended Stanford University, is averaging 11 kills per game. Kai Schmidt, a senior outside hitter who signed with Stanford University, is averaging nine kills per game. Other top Tritons include middle blocker Will Whidden, who signed with Pepperdine, and junior opposite hitter Marcus Kosolcharon. St. Margaret's won the school's third CIF-SS title at the 2022 CIF-SS Men's Volleyball Championship, but lost to El Segundo in last year's Division 3 final. The Orange Coast League champion Tartans will face four playoff opponents: Millikan in the first round, Burrows of Burbank in the second round, Wiseburn da Vinci in the quarterfinals and Long Beach Poly in the semifinals. overwhelmed. Reid Wainwright, a 6-foot-7 outside hitter from St. Margaret's who signed with Stanford University, is averaging 19 kills per game. Beckett Harvey, a 6-4 sophomore middle blocker, is averaging seven kills per game, as is Tartans' junior outside hitter Luke Balint.
division 2
Santa Margarita (24-4) vs. Redondo (24-6)
Where and when: Cerritos College, 3 p.m.
Outlook: Redondo finished second in the Bay League behind Division 1 finalist Mira Costa. Redondo entered the playoffs as the top-seeded team in Division 2. The Seahawks advanced through the 16-team field by defeating Pacifica Christian in the first round and Dos Pueblos in the quarterfinals, then defeated Beckman 3-1 in the semifinals. Redondo's top players include junior middle blocker Bobby Bennett, junior setter Shane Friedman, senior opposite hitter Luke Goldman and 6-foot-7 sophomore outside hitter Cash Essence. Santa Margarita finished second in the Trinity League behind Mater Dei. The Eagles defeated Royal in the first round, Long Beach Wilson in the quarterfinals, and Servite in the semifinals to advance to the finals. Senior outside hitter Ethan Saint had a team-high 25 kills in the win over Servite. Eagles senior outside hitter Brooks Ignossi had 15 kills and 12 digs against Servite, and freshman setter Chase Wallin had 40 assists. Santa Margarita is 3-1 in CIF-SS finals, winning in 1997, 1998 and 2001.