BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Apaches live to play another match

By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer
STEVENSON RANCH - It was questionable whether he would even suit up.
Arcadia High School middle blocker Nick Cvjetkovic, with a splint on his broken left thumb, was forced to play outside hitter, leaving the middle vulnerable.
Cvjetkovic was a catalyst with his hitting hand, though, and that left West Ranch's defense equally as vulnerable.
The Apaches junior recorded 14 kills to lead the visiting Apaches to a three-game sweep over the Wildcats, 25-20, 25-17, 25-16, in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II volleyball playoffs Friday night at West Ranch High.
"I didn't know if I wanted to risk it because I still have club season coming up, but I love these guys and I couldn't not play," said Cvjetkovic, who also had two aces. "I just did the best that I could one-handed and it worked out today. I'm just ecstatic right now."
Arcadia (21-12), the second-place team from the Pacific League, advanced to Tuesday's second round, where it will host West Valley, which defeated El Modena in three games on Friday.
"It was huge because they were ranked sixth and we didn't know what to think," Cvjetkovic said. "They beat (Pacific League champion) Claremont in three so we had our doubts, but we came out to win and I'm just happy."
Senior outside hitter Au Gordon posted six kills. Senior middle blocker Scott Novak collected five kills and seven aces and senior setter James Alexander had four kills.
The Apaches opened strong, grabbing leads of 5-1 and 16-9 in the first game before Cvjetkovic's kill from the back row closed out the game. He had six kills in the game.
"Nick is like the greatest player I've ever played with," Alexander said. "When he's anywhere on the court, I can set him any ball that I want and he puts it away. He had one or two blocks with one hand, absolutely phenomenal."
Arcadia committed three consecutive errors to give West Ranch an early lead in Game 2.
Following a kill by Alexander, though, Novak served the Apaches to nine consecutive points, including four consecutive aces, and a 9-3 advantage.
Arcadia raised its lead to 18-8 before grabbing a 2-0 edge in the match on a hard kill by Novak.
The Apaches took leads of 4-2 and 10-5 in Game 3 and eventually put away the match on a block for point by Novak.
"Them being ranked sixth with Valencia in their league, we were coming in thinking we'd put up a good fight, but that first game we started rolling and just never slowed down," Alexander said.
West Ranch, which placed second behind 2007 Division II semifinalist Valencia in the Foothill League, finished the season at 14-11.
Austin Peck led the Wildcats with 11 kills. Jeff Zepp had eight and Caio Schmidt seven.
"Arcadia's a great team and they've been in CIF since back when I played (at Valencia) in 2003 and have plenty of experience," West Ranch coach Nate Sparks said. "It's our first-ever appearance in boys volleyball in CIF and we just didn't come out really to play today at all."