Tough challenges ahead for local volleyball teams

The Marmonte and Sunset leagues have a date with destiny.

When the CIFSouthern Section Division I boys' volleyball playoffs begin Friday night, the Marmonte's top three teams- Royal, Thousand Oaks and Agoura- will all be playing against Sunset League opponents.

Fortunately for the Marmonte trio, none of the matchups include the Sunset's regularseason champion, top-seeded and nationally ranked Newport Harbor.

Still, doing battle with the Orange County-based powerhouse league should be a formidable task for all of the local squads, but not an impossible one.

"I don't know what they're feeding kids down there, but it seems to be working," Royal head coach Dean Borth said. "They're all super gigantic kids. . . .

"Volleyball seems to be a lot more popular down there than it is here, which is sort of a travesty. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be surprised to see all of the matches go five games."

Borth's Highlanders, the Marmonte's regularseason champion with a perfect 14-0 record in league play, will host Fountain Valley, an at-large selection.

Thousand Oaks will be at home, too, as the Lancers squareoff against Edison, the Sunset's thirdplace finisher. Agoura, playing in its first playoff game in program history, travels to Los Alamitos.

Newbury Park, the Marmonte's fourth seed, plays at Long Beach Wilson, first-place finishers in the Moore League. All games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Royal, which won its 15th league title in school history but first since 2002, is led by setter Jerame Maas, middle blocker Kyle Auge and opposite Trevor Jones. The Highlanders start only one senior, Auge, and five juniors.

"This is a team that has a ton of heart," Borth said. "It's really like the type of teams we had eight, nine or 10 years ago at Royal, teams with the heart and willingness to lay their bodies and souls on the line and go out and win for each other."

Thousand Oaks' only two league losses came at the expense of Royal. The Lancers' team strength is near the net, where middle blockers Cyrus Kiani and Spencer Chun compose a formidable front line.

"We have two of the better middles in high school volleyball and one of the best setters in high school volleyball," TOHS head coach Andrew Vazquez said.

"If my team is ready to play, I like our chances against anybody in Division I."

Chad Kingi, the Lancers' top setter, will be the key to any success the team may have in the postseason, Vazquez said.

While Royal and Thousand Oaks have been playoff regulars throughout the years, the postseason experience will be a completely new one for the Agoura Chargers and their head coach, Marla O'Hara.

"This is totally new territory for all of us," said an ecstatic O'Hara after learning of her team's draw. "I've never had to look at postseason information before. It's so exciting."

Leading the Chargers' charge is opposite hitter Tyler Brennen, middle blocker Michael Hatch, setter Nat Thompson, defensive specialist Jeff Alper and outside hitter Aaron Fredgant.

The long road trip Friday shouldn't be an issue for Agoura, the coach said.

"We've got to get out to Los Alamitos early, grab a late lunch and really start to get some team bonding together," O'Hara said. "We need to get real mental and take it to them the best we can."

In the Division IV bracket, Oak Park earned the top overall seed for the first time in school history after going 140 in the TriValley League. Oaks Christian, who's won three consecutive Division IV titles, finished second in the TVL and was awarded the division's second seed.

If Oak Park and Oaks Christian are to play for a third time this year- the Eagles won the first two contests- it wouldn't be until the championship match on May 24 at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

"We would like that," Oak Park head coach Patrick Quinn said.

According to Quinn, teams that could serve as a potential roadblock to an Oak Park-Oaks Christian trilogy include thirdseeded Santiago of Corona, the team that eliminated OPHS in last year's quarterfinal round, and fourth-seeded Norco.

Bishop Montgomery and North Torrance could also surprise a few teams in the Division IV bracket, Quinn said.

The Eagles' top players include setter Adam Quinn, middle blocker Stephen Thompson and outside hitter Jared Furlong.

"Those three guys must play well," the coach said, "but it's not going to be all about them. The other guys are the ones who have to step up."

In Division V, the Viewpoint Patriots, who, like Oaks Christian, have won three consecutive CIF championships, have garnered the second overall seed and a firstround bye. Viewpoint's first game will be Tuesday night at home.