WEST HILLS RALLIES JUST IN TIME FOR D4 CIF TITLE
In the heat of the fourth set, their team trailing 2-1, Loni Mesina and Dominic Wetton stepped up.
Mesina finished the set with nine kills, Wetton with four as West Hills High took the set, then won the match in a back-and-forth fifth set to beat San Diego High 3-2 and capture the Division 4 Boys Volleyball Championship in Southwestern College’s sparkling new gym.
The No. 5-seeded Wolf Pack (19-7) won by scores of 20-25, 25-21, 18-25, 25-12, 15-11.
“It was time to take over,” said Mesina, a first-team All-Grossmont Valley League player. “It was time to do my job for the team. I like to compete. I like to take charge. Dominic and I feed off each other.
“This championship is exactly what I had hoped for.”
Mesina finished with 16 kills, a block and a service ace. Wetton, the Grossmont Valley League Player of the Year, had 18 kills — four in the final set.
The fifth set was tied seven times, the final time at 9-9. That’s when West Hills took over.
The Wolf Pack took advantage of a hitting error by No. 2-seeded San Diego (22-9), got a service ace and a kill from Ryan Self and a kill from Wetton. The Wolf Pack went up 14-10 on a hitting error, gave a point back on a service error, then won it on a service error.
“Loni and I really didn’t know each other before the season,”
Wetton said. “But as we got into it, got to know each other, we formed a bond.
“We have a friendly rivalry, try to one-up each other. And I think it’s good for the team. And we do have a good team.”
San Diego trailed the fourth set 13-12 when Dong Le came in to serve. He served 10 straight points as the Wolf Pack ran away with the set
San Diego, a diverse team made up of soccer players, basketball players, skateboarders and chess players, was led by Miles Harris, a basketball player, who had 15 kills and three blocks. Garen Mvongo, a soccer player, had eight kills and three aces.
West Hills advances to the Southern California Regionals.
Division I
Poway 3, Helix 1: Ryan Johnson had six kills in the fourth set — three straight twice in the set — as No. 3-seeded Poway upset No. 1seeded Helix 25-16, 18-25, 26-24, 2518 to win the Division 1 championship.
Johnson finished the match with 12 kills and a block for the Titans (23-11).
Danny Sawyer, who had the final kill of the match, led the Titans with 13 kills, three blocks and an ace. Rhett Jorgensen had 10 kills and a pair of aces.
Helix’s Christian Chestnut, who came into the match with 329 kills, led the Highlanders (32-9) with 13 kills and two blocks.
But don’t be mistaken by Moore’s gentle nature.
“He was always someone who was real self-assured,” Rob Moore said. “Once he decides to do something, there’s not much you can do to change his mind. He’s very, very self-driven.”
Brandon Moore said the two most influential people in his life have been Rob and his father, Charles, who died eight years ago at 67.
“I think I’m in a constant struggle to make my dad proud,” said Moore. “His opinion always meant a lot to me. As of now, he’s my bar, how I judge myself.”
Asked what he recalls about his father, Moore said: “Our lessons were about being a good human being, doing what’s right. You didn’t have to step on everybody or be dysfunctional or a terrible person to have success.
“There was this overriding idea that winning and success came from trying and never giving up. And having faith and belief in yourself. My dad believed in owning the room.”
Moore will retain Matt Aponte as offensive coordinator, but otherwise is still hiring his staff. Defensively, the Toreros will switch from a four-man defensive front to a 3-4.
“More than anything, we want you to think we’re blitzing,” he said. “The disguise element is very important to us.”
Moore takes over for Dale Lindsey, who in his 10 seasons at USD became the Toreros’ all-time leader in wins, posting an 80-30 record, winning or sharing seven Pioneer Football League titles.
On the outside of the football coaches’ trailers, in blue numerals, the years are listed when USD won or shared PFL titles. It takes both trailers to capture the history: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021.
So the subject of pressure is brought up.
“The legacy and the success that Coach Lindsey and (Jim) Harbaugh and all the former coaches here, I think that, if anything, uplifts you,” Moore said. “I don’t see it as pressure. I think it’s awesome that there’s an expectation of excellence.”