The high school boys volleyball season officially ended last weekend, bringing to a close the longest season in local history.
West Ranch defeated Valencia in the Division 4 title game and also advanced to the Southern California Regional Championship during a historic year.
First-team honors for the Wildcats and Vikings included All-CIF and All-Foothill League selections.
CIF Division 4 Player of the Year: Noah Daufner, junior, West Ranch.
Downer was named Division 4 MVP after leading the Cats to the championship. The outside hitter recorded an astounding 602 kills this season and also led West Ranch with 82 aces, 47 blocks and 267 digs.
Full CIF:
- Lucas Reuter, Sr., West Ranch;
- Logan Sanchez, third grade, West Ranch;
- Nathan Willis, Jr., Valencia;
- Jet Rix, Sr., Valencia;
- Jarek Pascua, Sr., Valencia;
Reuter has shown her talents as a strong-serving middle blocker this season, as the senior made multiple runs from the end line and finished the season with 156 kills, 45 blocks, 14 aces and an 80% serve percentage.
Sanchez came on big time at West Ranch, filling the outside hitter position opposite Doefner, and finished with 240 kills, 142 digs and 24 aces.
Ricks and Pasqua were arguably the best outside hitting duo in the Foothill League. With their dominant hitting and serving, Ricks and Pasqua tallied over 312 and 236 kills on the season, respectively.
Foothill League Player of the Year: Nathan Willis, junior, Valencia.
Willis was the anchor of Valencia's CIF runner-up team and its first Foothill League championship in nine years. The libero led the Vikings with 54 aces and 321 digs. Most big servers get “you can't stop him” yells after an end line or highlight play, but Willis thrived as “he's so handsome” cheers came from the Valencia bench.
Foothill League First Team:
- James Audette Jr., third grade, Canyon;
- Oliver Botton, a senior at Golden Valley High School.
- Landon Cookston, Sr., Saugus;
- Shawn Ogle, Sr., Saugus;
- Jet Rix, Sr., Valencia;
- Jarek Pascua, Sr., Valencia;
- Noah Daufner, a senior at West Ranch High School;
- Lucas Reuter, Sr., West Ranch;
Audette and Botton have been among the Foothill League's most consistent setters this season, with Audette also showing off some big swings at the net while on the front row of a 5-1 attack.
Very little escaped Cookston's block at the net, and even though libero Sean Ogle was ready to cover the entire court, the first team's lone middle blocker thwarted most of the opposition's attempts.
Second team:
- Jayden Hayes, junior, Canyon;
- Quinn Broadwater, fourth grade, Castaic;
- Nicholas Waldron, a junior at Golden Valley High School.
- Maximillian Guardado, Jr., Saugus;
- Shawn Tran, Sr., Saugus;
- Dane Ricks, Sr., Valencia;
- Leo Santonkum, Jr., Valencia;
- Logan Sanchez, third grade, West Ranch;
Honorable Mention
- Landon Gibson, Sr., Canyon;
- Riley Humphrey, fourth grade, Castaic;
- Peter Hall, a senior at Golden Valley High School.
- Owen Soucek, Sr., Hart.
- Julius Canas, Sr., Saugus;
- Dylan McFatridge, sophomore, Valencia;
- Jackson Manansala, third grade, West Ranch;
Local Heritage League First Team:
- Jed Browning, a senior at Trinity High School.
- Skyler Hillman, a sophomore at Trinity University;
- Eli Duhm, SCCS third grader;
Second team:
- Thomas Paz, third grade, Trinity;
- Conrad Alderson, a senior at Trinity High School;
- Jude Patton, Sr., SCCS;
