PRESS-TELEGRAM BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM 2026
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kobe Magdael, Millikan, Senior
Kobe Magdael has been selected as the Press-Telegram Dream Team player of the year after leading Millikan to an undefeated Moore League title and a historic trip to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The Rams (27-2, 12-0) did not drop a set in league play.
“The biggest part of Kobe’s growth,” Millikan boys volleyball coach Matt Johnson said, “it wasn’t that he became so much better skill wise this year. He just because unshakeable in his attitude and his effort.”
The outside hitter was named co-Moore League player of the year and had a team-high 126 kills in 38 sets played.
“He didn’t care who he was up against,” Johnson continued. “He didn’t complain about the sets ever. He just went after it and tried to score points and then if there was something that wasn’t working, I’d let him know and he’d fix it. He’s just a really mature team player and I think that makes him stand out above the rest.”
Magdael will continue his volleyball career next season at Long Beach City College.
Millikan’s Kobe Magdael (4) returns the serve as the Rams take on Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Kobe Magdael (4) hits the ball past Long Beach Poly’s Josiah Walton (54) in Long Beach, CA, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan senior outside hitter Kobe Magdael, from left, gets a kill over the outstretched arms of Long Beach Poly’s Josiah Walton and Shahi Ifrad in Moore League action on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Millikan’s Kobe Magdael (4) returns the serve as the Rams take on Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Johnson, Millikan
Millikan boys volleyball coach Matt Johnson has been selected as Press-Telegram Dream Team Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to the program’s first Moore League title in 20 years and a berth in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.
“We have a little bit of a different philosophy than other programs,” Johnson said. “That’s something I try to guide first is I want them to become good young men. That’s the most important goal and then be a great team and play for each other after that. I honestly felt like this year, was the year that they bought into that more than ever before.”
Millikan finished 27-2 overall and 12-0 in the Moore League. The Rams’ 20-game win streak ended with a 3-0 loss to Newport Harbor in the first round of the 12-team Division 1 playoff bracket.
Coach Johnson’s team went 12-14 and 6-6 in league play in 2025.
Millikan head coach Matt Johnson senses victory on the horizon as he huddles with his team during a time out late in the third set against Poly in boys volleyball action on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan gathers for a team photo after the Rams defeated Poly in three sets to clinch the Moore League title on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan senior outside hitter Jacob Karkanen, center, and head volleyball coach Matt Johnson, right, celebrate after the Rams defeated Poly in three sets to claim the Moore League title on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Millikan head coach Matt Johnson senses victory on the horizon as he huddles with his team during a time out late in the third set against Poly in boys volleyball action on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
DREAM TEAM FIRST TEAM
Benjamin Panzica, Los Alamitos, Jr.: Panzica, a setter, was an All-Sunset League first team selection. Los Alamitos was one of two area teams to make the Division 1 playoffs and the only area squad to defeat Millikan.
Michael Komer, Los Alamitos, Sr.: Komer, a setter, was an All-Sunset League first team selection.
Noah Igo, Los Alamitos, Sr.: Igo, a middle blocker, was an All-Sunset League second team selection.
Charlie Panzica, Los Alamitos, Jr.: Panzica, a libero, was an All-Sunset League second team selection.
Rafael Chang, Los Alamitos, Sr.: Chang, an outside hitter, was an All-Sunset League second team selection.
Kobe Magdael, Millikan, Sr.: Press-Telegram Player of the Year.
Jacob Karkanen, Millikan, Sr.: Karkanen, an outside hitter, recorded 124 kills in 38 sets played. He also had a team-high 78 digs during that span.
Evan Crucil-Chambers, Millikan, Sr.: Crucil-Chambers, a middle blocker, had 33 blocks in 44 sets played for the Moore League champs. He also added 84 kills.
Millikan players gather around Evan Crucil Chambers, center, after a point in the Rams’ three-set sweep over Poly to clinch the Moore League title on Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026, at Poly High School in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Blake Baad, St. John Bosco, Sr.: Baad, a middle blocker, led Bosco to the Division 3 championship game and was an All-Trinity League first team selection.
Franklin Shiekh, St. John Bosco, Jr.: Shiekh, an outside hitter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 3 team. He was an All-Trinity League first-team selection.
Austin Shiekh, St. John Bosco, Jr.: Shiekh, a setter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 3 team. He was an All-Trinity League second-team selection.
Austin Shiekh #6 of the St. John Bosco Braves dives for the dig against the Windward Wildcats in the third set of a CIF-SS Division 3 boys volleyball championship match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Nicholas Frank, Long Beach Poly, Jr.: Frank, an outside hitter, led Poly to a second-place finish in the Moore League and to the second round of the Division 4 playoffs.
Long Beach Poly’s Nicholas Frank (3) hits the ball past Millikan’s Jacob Karkanen (1) and Evan Crucil Chambers (16) in Long Beach, CA, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Shane Costello, Downey, Sr.: Costello, an outside hitter, led Downey to an undefeated Gateway League title.
Guillermo Alvarez, Downey, Sr.: Alvarez, a libero, helped Downey win the Gateway League. The Vikings only dropped two sets in league play.
Taylor Caldwell, Downey, So.: Caldwell, a middle blocker, helped Downey earn a trip to the Division 3 playoffs.
Logi Holder, Warren, Jr.: Holder, a setter, led Warren to a second-place finish in the Gateway League and to the second round of the Division 4 playoffs.
Griffin Bass, St. Anthony, Jr.: Bass, an opposite hitter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 5 team and led the Saints to a runner-up plaque.
Johan Canedo, Bellflower, Sr.: Canedo, an opposite hitter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 5 team.
DREAM TEAM SECOND TEAM
Jaiden Gutierrez, St. John Bosco, Sr.: Gutierrez, a libero, helped Bosco reach the Division 3 championship game. He was an All-Trinity League second-team selection.
St. John Bosco libero Jaiden Gutierrez, center, reacts after scoring a point in boys volleyball action against Redondo Union on Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2026, at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Jack Furlow, St. Anthony, Sr.: Furlow, an opposite hitter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 5 team.
Noah Furlow, St. Anthony, Sr.: Furlow, a setter, helped St. Anthony reach the Division 5 championship game.
Ryan De Los Reyes, St. Anthony, Jr.: De Los Reyes, a libero, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 5 team.
Aydan Flores, Bellflower, Jr.: Flores, a setter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 5 team.
Jesus Gaytan, Bellflower, Sr: Gaytan, an outside hitter, helped Bellflower reach the Division 5 semifinals.
Matthew Espiritu, Wilson, Jr.: Espiritu, a setter and team captain, led Wilson to a third-place finish in the Moore League and a trip to the Division 6 playoffs.
Xavier Peralta, Firebaugh, Sr: Peralta, an opposite hitter, was selected to the All CIF-SS Division 6 team.
DREAM TEAM THIRD TEAM
Charlie LeMonnier, Valley Christian, Jr.
Vince Caminiti, Valley Christian, Jr.
Jared Raymundo, CAMS, Sr.
Anay Saran, CAMS, So.
Erick Madriz, Avalon, Sr.
Santiago Noriz, Avalon, So.
Luke Neff, Calvary Chapel, Sr.
Blake Roemheld, Calvary Chapel, So.
Ethan Nguyen, Whitney, Sr.
Lawrence Gibb, Whitney, Sr.
Axel Bustamante, Norwalk, Sr.