Santa Barbara Volleyball Club’s 18 Blue team
The Santa Barbara Volleyball Club fielded two boys travel teams this season, and both teams kicked off by placing 2nd in their first qualifying round in the Southern California Volleyball Association season.
The teams will compete in several qualifying rounds to place them in their starting divisions for the season, and to earn points toward earning a bid at the USAV Junior Nationals in Reno this year.
The 18 Blue kicked off their season with a 2-1 finish at the SCVA qualifier this past Sunday, holding seed in pool, ??and playing with great energy,? according to Boys 18-Blue head coach Armen Zakarian.
After cruising through the first match against Rebels 18Black with scores of 25-4, 25-19, the team faced Club Wood 18-1 and played a very clean match, winning by scores of 25-15 and 25-10. ?Our middle connection was working well with Jackson Wopat and Quinn Denkensohn firing from every angle and Chris Newton dishing out some great sets.? Remarked Zakarian
The team continued to play tough in the third match before ultimately falling to the tournament?s #3 seed overall, Manhattan Beach Surf 17-1’s (19-25, 15-25). Zakarian said, ?Drew Kenyon and Baker Johnson had great matches on the outside.?
The 17 Blue team also finished 2nd for the day, by beating Velocity 17-1 and edging out Riptides 17-Orange in a barn-burner, 25-23, 12-25, 15-13. The team then lost in 2 sets to the first seed in its pool, Huntington Beach 18-Tyler. Head Coach Dillan Bennett was pleased with the overall play of his team in its first showing, and pointed out that Niko Plesons finished the day with 19 kills from the outside, 6 digs and 5 aces, while middle hitter Will Pulice recorded 14 kills, a service ace and a block. Setter Nate Holmes dished out 57 assists, and recorded two service aces of his own.
The second place finish for the teams place both in the Gold Bracket for the final 2-day qualifying rounds, where they will compete among the top 48 teams for divisional starts and initial rankings, in Anaheim this coming weekend.
