Boys' Volleyball: Taft advances to 10th City championship game in past 14 years

Advancing to the City Section championship match has not been a problem for the Taft of Woodland Hills boys' volleyball team.

However, winning the title is another story.

The Toreadors will get another opportunity to win the championship Saturday after beating West Valley League rival Granada Hills for a third time this season in the semifinals 25-16, 25-19, 28-30, 25-12.

Taft advanced to its 10th championship game appearance in the past 14 years and will face No. 3 Palisades of Pacific Palisades, who features devastating outside hitter Kene Izuchukwu.

"This feels great, it is really important for our whole team," Taft outside hitter Kenny Molar said. "We came back in that fourth game and I'm so happy for coach (Arman) Mercado."

Mercado has guided the Taft program to its past five championship games but has come up short each time.

"We have to win one sooner or later you would think," Mercado said.

Alex Piatt and Molar led Taft with 13 and 11 kills.

Jordan Shoham had 36 assists and Taieb Habib had 15 digs.

"All the credit goes to our coach because it is his system that can't be beat," Molar said. "Every ball goes to the middle and the system has worked for us."

Taft was on the verge of a sweep but couldn't hold a 24-22 lead in set three or two other match-point chances.

"We just stumbled right there," Molar said.

Taft shook it off easily as it grabbed a 10-4 lead and was leading 23-9 in the deciding set before Molar ended the match with a kill that was partially blocked up front but landed on the Highlanders (11-5) side of the net.

Granada Hills was hoping to make its fourth championship game in the past five years but graduation losses and poor execution were too much to overcome.

"Everyone has to come to want to win," Granada Hills outside hitter Phillip Pawlikowski said. "We weren't experienced enough to win a match like this. The crowd was a big factor. We didn't have enough seniors who understand what this rivalry is like."

Pawlikowski had 16 kills, nine blocks and four digs and led the charge in set three.

Jose Juarez added 35 assists and sophomore Shon Greene had eight kills and nine blocks for Granada Hills.

"Ball control was the main issue for us," Granada Hills coach Tom Harp said. "The passing would break down and we couldn't get big hits from the middles."

Taft will face a tough team in Palisades and Izuchukwu but is hoping to reverse its losing trend.

"This is for all the alumni who came before us and came up short," Molar said. "We are going to throw four hands at Kene on Saturday and see what happens. We just have to continue to play consistent."