New-look Westlake off to hot start to season
Last season was somewhat of a whirlwind for the Westlake boys volleyball team. The Warriors only played 10 regular-season matches and Vanessa Murray, the team's interim head coach, guided them to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.
This time around, Murray is in her first full season as head coach of the varsity team and has big plans for the program.
“My hope is to bring Westlake boys volleyball back to that time when they were contenders in state and CIF,” Murray said.
Despite only two returners on this year's roster, the Warriors got out to a 12-2 start, partially due to the leadership of their captains, Jackson Burrows and Owen Ye.
Murray describes Ye, a fouryear varsity player, as an allaround player who can set, hit, pass and block. Burrows is valuable at middle and sets a precedent for accountability.
Sophomores Trey Kallman, a setter, and Calvin Kissell, an opposite, are the future leaders of the program and add to the team's well-rounded abilities.
“Their sophomore year, coming on as a varsity player, as one of my starters and filling that role, they've stepped up a lot,” Murray said. “It is a lot of pressure for them but they have risen to the challenge.”
The Warriors have competed in one tournament so far, winning the 34th annual Venice Invitational Varsity Volleyball Tournament. They won all nine matches in the gold bracket en route to the championship.
Talented Chatsworth gaining experience
The Chatsworth boys volleyball team has one of the most talented rosters in the L.A. City Section in terms of skill, as coach Sina Aghassy sees it. But it's also a group of players that has been relatively untested.
The last full indoor season for Chatsworth's current group of seniors was during their freshman year. The COVID-19 pandemic dashed the 2020 season and half of last season was played indoors.
But still, the Chancellors have the experience from winning a City Section Open Division title last season, and they're off to a 16-4 start this season.
“It's a group that I think has been affected by COVID a ton,” Aghassy said. “They've adjusted and it's just gotta be growth. We have the talent, it's just a matter of can we grow it to the level of being ready at the end of the year?”
Chatsworth competed in a tough Redondo Preseason Tournament in late February before losing to Westlake in the gold bracket championship game at the Venice Invitational.
“The talent is here,” Aghassy said. “It's just our seniors, who maybe haven't experienced those battles, and being battleready and battle-tested.”
The 6-foot-4 CJ Blankenship, an All-City Section player a year ago as a junior, returns at outside hitter. Jamaal Unuakhalu adds more height as a 6-7 middle after missing last season.
Ben Harper, another All-City Section returner, has moved to middle. Jacob Perez starts at libero. Blake Pohevitz, a transfer from Cleveland, is making an immediate impact with his athleticism and power at outside hitter.
West Ranch primed for another league title
The West Ranch boys volleyball team started its season 11-2, and both of those losses came in five-set setbacks, against Westlake and Burroughs.
Based on the success the team has experienced so far, combined with the skill of individual players, another Foothill League title and a deep run in playoffs could be on the horizon again for West Ranch.
The Wildcats reached the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals in 2019, but have yet to capture a CIF-SS title.
“We'd like to continue making progress in the playoffs,” coach Brandon Johnson said. “We think that this is a group that can make a deep run in playoffs. We will be dangerous when the time comes around.”
Matthew Reid is a three-year varsity player and leads the team at outside hitter.
“Matt brings a real fire and passion for the game, and his leadership for the team is sorely needed,” Johnson said. “He is the jump-on-my-back-and-follow-me-to-victory kind of a leader.”
Ryan Park has stepped in as starting libero after playing a defensive specialist role last season. Kyle Glinoga is starting at setter and Noah Douphner, a 6-4 freshman, is at opposite hitter.