BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Then there was one

Todd is right about what's going on at San Marino.

I am taking a leave of absence from my teaching and coaching job here at SM to teach English in Vietnam. I'm going with an organization called English Language Institute, China (http://www.elic.org) to teach conversational English at Quy Nhon University. Quy Nhon is on the coast of Vietnam about a third of the way up from the southern tip. This is something I'm very excited about and will certainly be a life changing experience.

The hardest part of my decision to go was leaving the students and athletes here, but this is something I feel called to do. I'm happy though that the school district has granted me a leave of absence so that I can come right back to my job here. I'm also happy that Scott Cameron agreed to take both the boys and girls programs while I am away. He and I have been working together the past few weeks with the girls and things are going well. While different coaches have different styles that take getting used to, I'm confident that the program will be in good shape when I return. Scott has more experience coaching at the high school level than I do, and already we are learning from each other. (This brings up the issue of how incredibly beneficial it is to have an assistant coach, but that's a conversation for another time.)

Calabasas Viewpoint d. Los Angeles Salesian, 25-17, 25-8, 25-20

With so many emotions running through the veins of the Patriots last night, Sage Hill had no idea what they were up against, as the Patriots broke open a close game one into another playoff sweep. Seniors Matt Talamantes and Julian Nagendran put in a dominating performance, accounting for 38 kills and 28 digs. Hunter Carlin also dominated on the right side, causing problems for the potential All CIF outside hitters from Sage Hill with his blocking, and crushing 12 kills of his own. A total team effort again, led by these three bruising attackers, led us to our 29th win of the season. The win sets up a match up that has been building all season, the CIF championship comes down to a winner take all grudge match between the Patriots and the Salesian Mustangs, an outstanding squad that is well coached and fresh off a five game win over Flintridge Prep in the other semifinal. The match will take place this Saturday, May 26 at Cerritos College in Norwalk. First serve is at 2:30 p.m.

Good luck to salesian in the finals. I enjoyed watching them play Flintridge Prep and would like to see them take Viewpoint.

This year Div. 5 championship game at Cerritoes College has a Pasadena-area connection. Salesian's assistant coach used to be the head varsity coach for San Marino girls. And Viewpoint's head coach used to be Alverno girls varsity coach. They both served as assistants for the East LA College woman's team a few years back. Congrat to both schools for hiring both outstanding coaches.

I dont work at San Marino, but Ive been told that Scott Cameron is coming back for one season, as the current coach Scott Mooney is going to teach abroad for the next school year. Note: Cameron has been teaching science at SM for years and still knows all the students etc. Mooney has done an excellent job in his first 2 years at SM and has pulled the difficult double duty, coaching both the girls and guys successfully. This isnt easily done, especially when you teach physics at SM. Will be great to have Cameron back for one more season, but the team will not be one that he's developed over 4 years like it used to be.

Some thoughts on the final area rankings: take it for what it is, its a ranking, its fun and not really meaningful, in that we dont have a CIF Playoff bracket of all local Star News area teams. So you have to go on matches played in some instances, in the first couple of weeks of the season, which isnt a good test. For most, if not all teams in 6 person volleyball (that includes beach schools), it takes till the end of the season to really put the teamwork, split second execution and mental aspects together. Injuries and other variables (like athletes coming from a winter sport) also are a big factor in success at any time of the season. Arcadia is clearly #1 not only for this season, but we've been really successful at South Pas and we've beaten Arcadia once in the last 17 years. So that should give some perspective of how far ahead they are of everyone else. There's no comparison with a good Div 2 team like Arcadia and any of the rest of us, in the current CIF Div setup. Div 3 and 4 are very close to the same. Many of the schools play each other during the regular season and in tournaments. The CIF champ in D3 will be very similar to the D4 Champ even for this season. Its a known fact that Oaks Christian the D4 champ the last 2 seasons, probably would have won the D3 titles in at least '05 and maybe in '06 as well. It looks like Oaks is not as powerful this season, so for this '07 season, D3 is def a step up from D4. The passion is the same in D5, but the play isnt. The difference is substantial, even from D4 to D5. FP improved a lot and did some great things in the playoffs, but to compare that to higher div teams.....the only way they could support it, would have been to beat them during the reg season. Anyway, its a fine season for all in the top 5 and beyond (like San Marino) and some good playoff runs by local teams.

Scott Cameron retired a LONG time ago, there's not a possibility that he's coming back.

What's all these talks about Scott Cameron coming back to coach for San Marino?

It would be nice to see the Flintride Prep Girl's team rebound with a big year. Same coach as the boys and deep with experienced players.

what are the predictions for the divion 4 teams next year?

Thanks Scott. Hopefully they do have a solid year next year, and get over the hump and make it to the championship.

Flntridge Prep have their big guys back next year. They could be a team to watch out for. I must say that I enjoyed watching Namura play. What a sparkplug.

Salesian will be good again. They only have one senior leaving.

San Marino should be number 5 in the final poll!!!

They beat San Gabriel and South Pasadena.

Watch out for San Marino!
Legendary coach Scott Cameron is back for one year!

How does Flintridge look for next year. They are returning some good players from this year, but are losing Dan Namura and Alex Roe.

Thanks scott for the whole blog this season. And for the Star-news rankings, couldnt be more right.

I know I'm going to get some heat on this, but since the season's over, here are the real Star-News final rankings.

Although Flintridge Prep had a great season, I am basing this on what the best team is and not how they finished.

1. Arcadia
Arcadia beat South Pas in three games, albeit early, and was eliminated by a team considered to be one of the top four or five in Southern California this year.

2. South Pasadena
This team beat both Flintridge Prep and La Salle, in a close match, and I believe they'd do it again.

3. La Salle
Just their size alone up front was good enough for me. Michael Fey is a hard hitter and their middles clog up the net with their blocking ability.

4. Flintridge Prep
This team improved as the year progressed and I was impressed with how they played as a unit. I believe they outplayed Salesian, but it was clear down the stretch that they pressed in key situations.
Flintridge's middles were good as well, but didn't show the ability to come up with key blocks.
My reference point is having teams like Valencia, Santa Barbara, Corona Del Mar and even Arcadia. They all have the ability to come up with key stuff blocks for points.

5. San Gabriel
They were No. 3 in Division III all season long and were knocked out, but, although they got swept by San Marino, I still give them the nod.

There you have it. Please feel free to comment.

All the comments have been great and are appreciated.

Hey I don’t get it. How can Salesian be considered in the Star-News area? The high school is in east LA by the 5 and 60 freeways

Salesian coaching staff won the game. Good job.

Starnews poll for this week

1. Salesian
2. FPrep
3. Arcadia
4. So. Pas
5. La Salle

Congratulations to Flintridge Prep for a fine season. That was a great match in a great atmosphere.

Just got back from the match. It was a pretty good one. Unfortuntatly Flintridge couldn't pull it out though.

salesian wins match with 15-11 victory in gane 5

salesian wins game four 27-wt
match tied 2-2

This is awesome, a game-by-game update. Good luck FPrep, close it out.

flintridge wins game three 26-24 to take 2-1 match lead

game 2

fp 25
salesian 21

match tied 1_1
1

W

FIRST GAME SCORE

Salesian 25
Flintridge Prep 18

Salesian has been a scrappy team for years. They will hustle on every play. FP will have to play well to beat them. Prep does have the home court, which will be big for them. That gym really gets loud and the fans are right on top of you.

If FP makes it thru tonight, then have fun playing Viewpoint. Viewpoint is ultra talented, though they are a bit quirky. Some of the quirks you see from them during the reg season and tournaments might be gone by this point in the playoffs, so if they're on, then it will be a difficult chore for FP to win on Sat.

What does rugby have to do with volleyball??

What is the scouting report on Salesian??

Coaching staff, key players, style of play doe anyone got the real insight on them??

Hey friend you should do an article on the Los Angeles Cougars Rugby High school rugby club. It is a team made up of kids from local schools Poly, St. Francis , San Marino, South pas and Loyola kids that are from the area. They just went to the High School national championships and finished second in their division and 10th overall in the nation. Their website is www.cougarrugby.org

Pasadena Preps, the CIF did require a neutral site for the semifinals, but changed the rule last year, thus allowing the home team to host the match.

I mean it should be packed on wednesday. My bad.

The gym should be packed tomorrow. It's gonna get loud.

Scott, thanks for the update. The last I heard (from a Fprep source) was that CIF requires that the match be held at a neutral site to be designated by the home team and that Flintridge Prep had arranged for it to be held at St. Francis.

Should be a good match and if it is in the Flintridge Prep Gym the Rebels would have to be favored.

what is this pasadenaprep.com site? Are their sources reliable??

Yes, I am scheduled to be there and looking forward to it.

Scott, are you going to be covering the Flintridge/Salesain game on Wednesday?

No, the match will be held at Flintridge Prep according to school officials.

Is the flint prep match really at St. Francis?

Can ScottG confirm that please?

Just so everyone is clear, the poll that was mentioned is the final CIF Division V poll.

pasadenapreps thanks

Our information is that the match will be played at St Francis.

Where is the Flintridge match?

Can we trust the poll?

Flint. prep is rank #7

salesian is rank #3 in the poll

Thanks a lot Scott. Do you know if the game is at Flintridge or at a neutral site?

Let's see. Salesian owns a win over Viewpoint in the first match of the season February 27, 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23.
La Salle beat Salesian in four games in the championship match at the Providence Tournament.
Viewpoint later beat Salesian, 25-22, 25-22, 24-26, 25-17 April 16.
Salesian lost to Campbell Hall Campbell Hall d. Salesian in four games.
The same campbell Hall that Flintridge Prep beat in four.

How does Salesian compare to the Brethren Christian?

South Pasadena had a great season. And minus a fluke/choke at the end of game four, they would be in prime postition to win a title.

Good Season Tigers, but now Flintridge Prep, make the area proud.

Anon: I'm sure you wouldn't be happy if I were to do a top-5 this week.
Flintridge Prep is the last area team alive and I'm looking forward to seeing them play.

Just enjoy the moment.

It was pretty crazy in there on Friday night. So many fans showed up

The Flintridge Prep Gym is no friend to any opposing team. It's old, it's hot and very noisy. It's also going to be guted and redone during the Spring and Summer of 2008...GO REBELS!

My bad. I'm sorry

Star news poll for this week.

1. Fprep
2. Arcadia
3. So. pas.
4. La Salle

Fprep Fan, it is not Grace Bretheren...they are from Simi Valley. It was Brethren Christian from Huntington Beach. But, it is nice to see a LA school beating an OC school in volleyball. I hope you apologize to Grace Bretheren school.

I heard that the Salesian Flintridge game is at Flintridges gym on Wednesday is right or not

I was in that student section last night, and Grace Bretheren really looked rattled throughout the whole match