CIF San Diego Section Boys Volleyball Championships
When: Friday
Where: Mission Hills High School
Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors.
Division 1: (1) Canyon Crest Academy (22-13) vs. (6) Eastlake (17-20), 5 p.m.
Preview: As the top seed in Division 1, Canyon Crest Academy could have made an argument it belonged in the Open Division. The Ravens are ranked No. 8 in the county by MaxPreps.com based largely on their tough schedule. They began the season losing seven of eight, but coach Noly Mon’s almost entirely new starting lineup got it going with big wins over Open Division teams Carlsbad (twice), San Dieguito Academy and Francis Parker. CCA is led by senior pin VuongNguyen, senior setter James Oyung and sophomore libero Wilson Mueller. … Eastlake has put together one of the strangest seasons in recent memory. After a 4-0 start, the Titans had 15 straight losses, although many came against quality teams. They enter Friday carrying a seven-match winning streak. That includes five-set playoff wins over No. 3-seeded Cathedral Catholic and No. 2-seeded Westview.
Open Division: (1) Bishop’s (37-3) vs. (2) Torrey Pines (32-7), 7:30 p.m.
Preview: In a surprise to nobody, the last two teams standing are Bishop’s and Torrey Pines, who have been Nos. 1 and 2 in the U-T poll all season. The teams are No. 6 and 9, respectively, in the nation in the USA TODAY Sports/AVCA Super 25 rankings. All three Bishop’s losses came to teams outside of San Diego. The Knights’ losses came to the No. 1 (Manhattan Beach Mira Costa), No. 2 (Los Angeles Loyola) and No. 17 (Glendale, Ariz., Sandra Day O’Connor) teams in the nation. They dominated San Diego competition with a 71-4 record in sets. Bishop’s can attack from anywhere,led by junior Will Denning’s 503 kills on a .413 hitting percentage and senior middle Giles Beamer’s 315 kills on a .471 clip. Twins Hudson Yockey (154) and Logan Yockey (144) and David Beamer (111) are also triple digits in kills. … Torrey Pines owns one of those local set losses as they took the Knights to four. The Falcons won six straight after that loss, including wins over top 10 teams Carlsbad and Francis Parker (twice) in the playoffs. Senior outside Declan Flanagan leads the way with 440 kills at a .351 clip. He surpassed the 1,000-kill career mark this week. Griffin Dieterhas been great at the other outside with 362 kills while Ege Karagoz (148) and David Kim (137) are also in triple digits in kills. This one may come down to the classic serve and serve receive battle. Bishop’s has never won a CIF title in the sport, and Torrey Pines broke a 31-year drought of winning in the top division two years ago.
— TIM MEEHAN