The Bellarmine boys volleyball team poses for a photo after winning the CIF NorCal boys volleyball Division IV state championship on May 20, 2025. (Photo by BJ Prudencio/Bellarmine Athletics)
Division I
Valley Christian 3, Archbishop Mitty 0
Valley Christian defeated West Catholic Athletic League rival Archbishop Mitty to take home the state's top boys' volleyball title with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-20 victory.
Warriors sophomore Elan Taylor was the star of the Division 1 championship with a team-high 12 kills and an ace in the third set to end the match.
Tyler Alden had nine kills, and Greg Lee and Andrew Salisbury also found the net. These players were developed by Harry See, setter Andy Shue, and notable senior Keaton Hendry.
This was the Warriors' first men's NorCal volleyball title in any division.
“There was a sense of urgency at every point because we knew Mitty wasn't going to rest,” Valley coach Moni Tautu told Bay Area News Group in an email. “There were some nerves, but I expected them too. The greatest reward requires great personal risk. Throughout the season, we learned the mindset of relying on each other and pushing each other's limits. We have cultivated
Valley Christian's rise to the top came as a bit of a surprise, as the Warriors were the No. 3 seed in the Central Coast Section Open Division.
The Warriors beat second-place St. Francis 3-0 with Hendry and Shue combining for 38 assists, and then beat first-place Santa Cruz 3-1 with Shue adding 47 assists and Jerrod White tying for the most on the team. and won the section title. Lead with 3 blocks.
The Warriors, once again the No. 3 seed in NorCal, dominated No. 6 Bishop O'Dowd thanks to Alden's 14 kills. The San Jose private school then had to make the long trip to Fresno to play at Sanger, where Valley won 3-1.
“We are just like any other team, we had to overcome our differences, we had to learn how to communicate and respect each other,” Tautu said. “We failed many times and succeeded many times in different ways. But we came through injuries and personal challenges heading into the NorCal game with more grit and determination. Ta.”
The Warriors won 11 straight games and finished the season with 34 wins and 10 losses, with Valley Christian taking the NorCal championship.
Mitty finished the season with a 30-10 record, with William Dryden leading the team with 422 kills.
Division III
Lee 3, Monta Vista 2
Lee coach Jeff Argabright gave three shots to receive the NorCal Division III trophy after the Longhorns defeated Monta Vista 17-25, 36-34, 21-25, 25-19, 15-8. A special player was dispatched.
“We took over the program three years ago and freshman Cooper Smith and sophomores Liam Popejoy and Connor Chiu started on that team and went 3-13 (0-10 in BVAL),” Argabright told the Bay Area News Group in an email. “Now these three kids are CCS champions and NorCal champions.”
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but was moved to 2 p.m. because Monta Vista was attending prom. After losing the first game, Coach Argabright placed Popejoy in the middle and brought in Owen Soloman as an outside hitter, helping the Longhorns win the second set 36-34.
Xace Leem had 18 kills and Smith had 22 kills in San Jose Public Schools' first NorCal title match victory. Lee lost in the NorCal Division II title game in 2016.
“It's been an amazing turnaround. Liam is going to play at UCSC next year. Our team motto when things are going well is 'Barbecue Chicken Alert,'” Argabright said. . “This week we are giving away a custom Barbecue Chicken His Alert His sticker to the player.”
Montavista finished the season with a 21-14 record after standout seasons from players such as libero Rahul Poshinenyi and outside hitter Elijah Kang.
The Matadors defeated Aragon to win the CCS Division II title and defeated International San Francisco and Moreau Catholic to advance to the program's third NorCal title game.
Lee finished the season 29-7, winning the CCS Division 1 title with a 3-2 win over Bellarmine and advancing to the NorCal state title game with wins over Lowell SF and Del Oro.
“It was a great season and I'm so proud of them,” Argabright said. “They had to work for this and earn a little bit of money.”
Division IV
1st place Bellarmine 3, 2nd place Vanden 1
The Bells defeated second-seeded Vanden 23-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-13, making a dominant playoff berth for the state title. The San Jose school won the state title for the second time in school history and first since 2016.
“From the opening serve to the final point, every player on this roster gave it their all,” Bellarmine coach BJ Prudencio said. “They faced challenges throughout the season, each at bat. It was an honor to coach them and watch them grow into a cohesive unit.”
Junior setter Jake Behrenger totaled 40 assists, three kills and three digs. Sophomore opposite hitter Krithik Sambaskumar had a team-high 14 kills, eight digs and three blocks.
For Vanden, outside hitter Christian Ting had 13 kills and junior setter Tabas Spencer had 36 assists and two aces.
“I'm proud of this team,” Vanden coach Dalston Spencer said. “Almost all of them started working with me two years ago, and what they've accomplished is amazing. To be able to play against such a strong team shows the effort and effort they have put into this sport.”
Bellarmine struggled in the regular season, but performed well in the sectional and state playoffs. After losing to Lee in the Central Coast Section Division I final, the Bells quickly defeated their opponents in the state tournament.
Bellarmine defeated Oakland (3-1) and Lincoln-San Francisco (3-1) to win the state title Saturday against Vanden.
“Looking to the future, I'm excited to build on this momentum and return to being a force in sports,” said Prudencio. “We have a talented group of young players who are hungry to learn and develop, and I am confident they will continue to make a positive impact.”
