When Tim Hovland and current head coach Anjinho Bacil took over El Segundo’s boys volleyball program seven years ago, there were approximately 20 student athletes comprising the three teams.
With the participation of players in club volleyball and experienced coaching, El Segundo has become one of the top boys volleyball programs in the South Bay.
The coaching staff has won five league titles and one CIF championship (2010) since taking over the reins at the small school.
Ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 3, Ocean League champion El Segundo (20-5) plays at No. 4 Paloma Valley (26-1) Wednesday at 7 p.m. with the victor facing the winner between No. 6 Quartz Hill and unranked Gahr in the championship match Saturday at Cerritos College.
“We’ve come a long way and our program continues to improve,” Hovland said. “I feel Anjinho is the best coach in Southern California. Our practices are tough and the boys have grown a lot in the last two months.”
El Segundo opened the season playing tough against Loyola, the No. 2 team in the nation according to MaxPreps, dropping a four-set match while handing the Cubs one of only eight set losses this season.
In May, El Segundo defeated Bay League power Redondo to win the Gold Division Consolation championship at the Redondo Varsity Classic.
The Eagles have not lost a set during the playoffs and are on a mission to claim a CIF title and make a deep run in the CIF State Regional tournament.
“If we play our game nobody can beat us,” Hovland said. “Our ball control, blocking and experience make us tough to beat.”
Hovland considers 6-foot-8 junior Stephen Moyes the best middle blocker in the state. Moyes finished with a match-high 15 kills and 12 blocks in El Segundo’s 25-14, 25-15, 25-12 rout of San Gabriel in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Sophomore setter Joe Kelly passes the ball around to a potent offense that includes Brandon Kurke and Nick Rable while libero Nolan Sharp and middle blocker Matt Carter anchor a stifling defense.
After two home matches, fifth-ranked Mira Costa (24-4) went on the road to face fourth-seeded Newbury Park in the Division 1 quarterfinals on Saturday.
The Mustangs defeated the Panthers 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 29-27 behind Jackson Wedbush’s 19-kill performance.
Roy McFarland had 12 kills and four aces, Blake Markland added 12 kills and Chris Caskey recorded five stuff blocks for Mira Costa.
“It was obviously a big win against a very good team on their home court, which in CIF is never easy,” Mira Costa head coach Sean Shoptaw said. “I’m proud of how the boys fought and grinded throughout the match and our execution was good all night, a very good recipe for us.”
Mira Costa travels to face top-seeded Huntington Beach (34-0) in a semifinal match Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Mustangs were swept by the Oilers – the top-ranked team in the nation – in their regular-season finale two week ago.
“I think our match against Huntington Beach two weeks ago should remove any unknowns about what it takes and what that environment is like,” Shoptaw said. “We know what we’re dealing with and we just need to stand in and battle. Serving and passing are the two biggest keys for us, if we can do both of those things well we’ll be in a good place and of equal significance. We need to enjoy the moment and go for it.” ER
