San Juan Hills Boys Volleyball Team Wins in First-Round CIF Playoff Action

The 2011 boys golf CIF championship banner is looking a little lonely up there by itself in the "Saddle Dome" at . Might a 2012 boys volleyball banner join it?

It's a possibility, now that the Stallions have passed their first-round opponent in Beckman High of Irvine Tuesday night at home.

After a strong start with four unanswered points in the first game, Beckman returned, chasing on the Stallions' heels and coming from behind to win the first set of the match.

But the San Juan Hills boys took the next three sets in a row to make a definitive statement that they do indeed belong in post-season play. Final scores, 24-26, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-20.

Coach Justin DeBlasio said the Patriots' play threw the team off a bit.

"They had a really unconventional offense. They tip-and-roll shoot very, very well," said DeBlasio, who's in his first year at San Juan Hills. "We were expecting them to be very physical. They weren't. To us, it was a surprise. We had to adjust."

The Stallions will face West Ranch High of Stevenson Ranch (near Magic Mountain), which beat out the favored Righetti High of Santa Maria on Tuesday. This is their .

"It's a real good experience for them. We're a young team," DeBlasio said.

Senior Wiley Simpson was the kill leader for the Stallions with 12 kills. Three others, senior Jesse Carillo, sophomore Logan Zotovich and sophomore Ryan Schickling, had nine kills each.

Sophomore Reed Wilson logged 19 digs and Zotovich had 31 assists.

"It was really nerve-wracking," Zotovich said after emerging from the locker room. "But our team came together."