The arrival of Jackson Crist instantly transformed the Sage Hill boys volleyball program into a powerhouse, and Saturday brought its first tangible reward on the biggest stage.
Crist was dominant, totaling an astonishing 54 kills and leading the Lightning to San Marino 19-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-18 in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 title game. , and won 15-13. He was phenomenal, if not perfect, but winning took effort from everyone involved, not just the 6-foot-10 centerpiece.
Sage Hill (22-8) had to come back from one-set deficits twice before holding off a late fifth-set onslaught from the fourth-seeded Titans to win the first CIF final for both programs at Cerritos College. It was a dramatic victory. It was the unranked Lightning's fourth win in five playoff games against a top-10 opponent, second in five sets, and toughest victory.
The Sage Hill boys volleyball team celebrated scoring and winning the CIF Southern Section Division 5 Championship on Saturday.
(James Carbone)
“We know how to pull it out when we're in a tight spot,” Sage Hill coach Shelby Young said. The team will compete in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs next week. “I think we also like a little bit of tight drama. … Volleyball at Sage Hill is something that we always finish, and sometimes we get caught up in the gravity of the match, the opponent and our situation. I think the fact that we finish is more about how we finish than how we finish. You start, and we know that.”
The Lightning took advantage of a 9-2 tear to turn a 7-7 fourth set into a ruckus, then quickly jumped out to a six-point lead after San Marino (24-7-1) pulled within one point. The game also held up well and finished brilliantly. 4 times in the final set. Skilled defense all over the court was crucial, but Chryst's ability to finish plays made the difference.
The junior Long Beach Millican transfer was chased by NCAA champion UCLA and runner-up Long Beach State, totaling double-digit kills in every set except the third, where he had nine kills. did. Ten of Sage Hill's points in the fifth set, including the game-winner, came from his swings, including several explosive spikes that left hope against an organized and talented Titans defense. There wasn't.
On Saturday, Sage Hill's Jackson Crist, 12, spiked the ball against San Marino's Luca Moggio, 32.
(James Carbone)
Crist's teammates combined to add 15 kills, nine of which came from opposing sophomore Connor Gap.
“The more opportunities he gets, the more he shines,” Young said of Gap.
Senior middle blocker Aidan Powell had three kills and one block. Senior setter Brayden Brien, junior middle blocker Omar Al Khatib, libero Dylan Hung and outside hitter Ryan Manesh (both sophomores) also made big contributions.
Ryan Manesh, 5, of Sage Hill spikes the ball during Saturday's CIF Southern Section Division 5 final against San Marino.
(James Carbone)
Crist had 200 kills, 21 blocks (he had three on Saturday) and nine aces in five playoff games.
“6-[foot]-10 does that for you,” Young said. His team is 16-3 since Crist became eligible in mid-March. “And his experience and upbringing… [by former pro Geoff Cryst, a Long Beach State standout in the 1990s]. He comes from a long history of high-level volleyball. he understands that. ”
Christa wasn't perfect. The ball was lighter than what he's used to — there were three service errors, four swings at the net, and a few that went far — but he said, “I think it could have been more efficient.” “It could have been,” he admitted — and Young said it was “terrible.” It's a great example of how he's still human.”
Jackson Crist, 12, of Sage Hill backhands the ball over the net during the CIF Southern Section Division 5 final against San Marino.
(James Carbone)
He wasn't nearly enough. San Marino, who did not drop a playoff set, used runs of 4-0, 9-2, and 7-2 to sprint to victory in the first set, ending the third set tied 9-4 to take a 2-1 lead. They took advantage and then went 10-4 in the final set behind a versatile team led by left-handed opposite Casey Chan (15 kills, 2 blocks) and middle blocker Luca Moggio (12 kills, 2 blocks). They turned their deficit into a clash with a one-point difference. Expert setter Jared Wang.
The Titans (51), who had fewer kills than Crist, made late charges in all three sets won by Sage Hill and trailed by six points in the second and fourth sets before a fifth-set rally fell short. brought it to a close battle.
“I’m glad I was able to overcome that adversity.” [in the earlier playoff rounds]” said Crist. I feel like ” [our bracket] was much more difficult than [San Marino’s].The match went to 5 sets. [the second-round win at Camarillo]the match went to 4 sets. [two: at Fullerton in the opener and against No. 2 Moreno Valley Rancho Verde in the quarterfinals.
“We were battle-tested, they hadn’t dropped a set, so I feel like they weren’t ready, and that’s how we got that jump out of the gate, and that’s why we could continue to push even when it got to scary side-out, side-out volleyball. We really thought it’s our volleyball [toward the end], we just need to play volleyball. We are better and everyone has the highest level of confidence no matter where the ball goes. We are confident in playing volleyball as a team. It doesn't have to be one guy. ”
In the CIF Division 5 final, Sage Hill's Jackson Crist (12 points) and Omar Al Khatib (7 points) held off San Marino's Luca Moggio (32 points).
(James Carbone)
Here's Young's message to his team after losing the third set: “Either we end their season or they end our season. How bad do you want it? What are you going to do to get that win?”
“We can take on the business. Absolutely,” she said. “And I think the more we can get out front and keep running in front and finish, the more we can see that's the level we're at. We don't have to fight, let's just accept it.”
Sage Hill entered the playoffs without much fanfare – they hadn't won in the playoffs since a wild-card win in 2018 and hadn't won in their bracket since 2010 – but with a lot of confidence. The school, which arrived and Crist called the title “great,” is like building a volleyball culture. ”
Sage Hill's Connor Gap (1) defeated San Marino's Jeffrey Lee (13) in the CIF Southern Division Division 5 finals with spikes.
(James Carbone)
That didn't surprise anyone in the program.
“We’ve been working toward this all season, so I’m glad it all paid off…” Gap said. “We always believed we would win.”
