Santa Barbara Fights Off a Spirited San Marcos to Win Channel League Boys Volleyball Title
Sam Meister of Santa Barbara elevates to hit against San Marcos blockers Aiden Pazier (13) and Hansen Streeter. (Gary Kim / Noozhawk photo) By Barry Punzal, Noozhawk Sports Editor |
@NoozhawkSports
| 10:18 p.m.
Santa Barbara High’s boys volleyball team wasn’t going to win the Channel League title without a fight.
And San Marcos gave the Dons all they wanted in their second meeting of the league season at the Thunderhut on Monday night.
Santa Barbara relied on its experience and the one-two punch of Sam Meister and Alex Rottman to overcome a first-set loss with comebacks in sets two and three and beat the Royals, 19-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18.
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Diego Arroyo dished out 17 assists for Santa Barbara, and Isaiah Gil had seven kills and four blocks. Jackson Wooten added six kills, and Camden Millington had four kills, eight assists and 14 digs.
“We also brought up freshman Raglan Kear to play tonight as our starting Libero,” Santa Barbara coach Chad Arneson said. “He did a great job passing and digging tonight.”
The Dons are 7-0 overall and 6-0 in league play. They play at San Marcos on Monday and host Dos Pueblos on Wednesday for Senior Night.
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Sean Ortiz had a huge match for the Chargers, blasting a career-high 24 kills. He was a smart attacker and seemed to make the right swing almost every time, said DP coach Ehren Hug. It was such a competitve atmosphere tonight, Hug said of the match. We really rose to the competition and we got better. The coaches and I are proud of the constant fight the players put forth and the effort to improve was definitly apparent.
The Chargers (2-3 overall and 2-1 in league) were able to run their attack thanks to the passing of Finn Hastings and Emmett Ehrnstein.