Plus, scores from around the Foothill League
For the second time in three years, the Valencia boys’ volleyball team won the Foothill League championship following a four-set win, 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22, over the Saugus Centurions at home on Thursday.
“We had a lot of struggles, injuries and sickness, so this wasn’t easy for sure,” Valencia head coach Brendan Riley said. “Saugus is a worthy opponent. They’rereally good and I’m super elated.”
For Valencia (19-7, 9-0), the win was the clean type of game that Riley likes to see for his team.
The last few contests, Riley added that the Vikings have been needing to win in come-from-behind fashion and that although his team had to do the same again on Thursday, he believed they played well against Saugus (21-9, 6-3).
In the first set, the Centurions took the victory, but the Vikings came out with a fast tempo in the following sets and handled Saugus to win in convincing fashion.
“I thought we played really well,” Riley said. “We only had four errors across four sets and when we started serving, we started hitting really well. And we kept Saugus out of their sync and that made all the difference.”
The Vikings claimed the league title with three games left to spare in league play. And for Riley, although the team wants to finish off the league season unbeaten, he’s looking ahead to the playoffs and looking for players who can help contribute and are ready.
“These guys want to go undefeated,” he said. “I’m just trying to find one or two people that can make a difference in the playoffs. That’s what I’m thinking right now.”
The Vikings return to league action on Thursday, April 16, on the road against the Castaic Coyotes with first serve scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The loss kept the Centurions in second place in the Foothill League standings with a 6-3 record and they will look to bounce back in their next league game on Wednesday, April 15, at home against the West Ranch Wildcats at 5:30 p.m.
After Thursday’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
Castaic 3, Hart 1: The Castaic Coyotes (15-8, 4-5) secured their fourth Foothill League win of the season following a four-set victory over the Hart Hawks (9-11, 3-5).
The Coyotes are in fourth place in the Foothill League boys’ volleyball standings as the Hawks are in fifth place with a 3-5 record.
The Coyotes play again in their next Foothill League contest on Wednesday, April 15, at Canyon High School against the Cowboys with the game set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
The Hawks will look to bounce back on Wednesday, April 15, at home against the visiting Golden Valley Grizzlies with the game scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Golden Valley 3, West Ranch 0: The Golden Valley Grizzlies (5-13, 2-7) recorded their second league win of the season after a road win over the West Ranch Wildcats (6-15, 2-6).
The Grizzles will look to win again in their next league game 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Hart High School against the Hawks.
The Wildcats will look to bounce back in their next league contest at Saugus High School on Wednesday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m.
Photos below from Valencia’s win over Saugus:
