City Section

Friday, May 14

CITY SECTION FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Chatsworth d. L.A. University, 25-17, 25-19, 25-23
Winning a championship is never easy and defending it is supposed to be harder, but not for Chatsworth, which had little trouble sweeping University, 25-17, 25-19, 25-23, Friday night at Pierce College to become the fourth school to win three consecutive City Section boys’ volleyball titles.

With the score tied, 23-23, in game three, Robert Pate and Juno Ramos combined to block Bat Altankhuwag to give the top-seeded Chancellors (18-2) a match point. When Sean Freeark pounded a kill through a block on the next point, Chatsworth could begin to celebrate its sixth City title since the sport was sanctioned in 1974.

“I think our experience is what pulled us through that last game,” said Chatsworth senior setter Collin Parker. “Most of us are seniors and when we are down we don’t look to our coach, we look to each other. It’s hard when you haven’t played a team before, but we told each other there’s no way we are losing. We are getting this done.”Parker finished with 32 assists. Freeark had 11 kills and four blocks and Pate added 10 kills and five blocks for Chatsworth, which is ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times and has compiled a 58-6 record the last four seasons.

The second-seeded Wildcats (14-2) committed six service errors in the second game, the last by Jose Vera on game point that capped an 8-3 scoring run by Chatsworth.”We made a lot of mistakes and we didn’t play good defense,” said University’s 6-5 senior middle blocker Victor Guillen, who will join Parker at Pierce College next season.Ralph Johnson had 12 kills and Altankhuwag added 10 for University, which was attempting to become the first school from outside the San Fernando Valley to win the City title since Palisades in 1998.
--Steve Galluzzo

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Reseda d. Monroe, 25-21, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15
Jagroop Toor had 24 kills and Ben Karzai finished with 24 assists for the second-seeded Regents (14-3), who won their second lower-division title. Reseda won the 3-A Division title in 1988. John Oliver had 11 kills for the ninth-seeded Vikings (8-9).

Tuesday, May 11

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Semifinals

Chatsworth d. Venice, 21-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 15-9
Robert Pate and Ramsey Darling each had 15 kills, Jeff Grella added 11 kills and setter Colin Parker had 52 assists for No. 1-seeded Chatsworth (16-0), ranked No. 6 in The Times rankings. Pate also chipped in seven blocks for the Chancellors. No. 4-seeded Venice is 13-3.

L.A. University d. Granada Hills, 19-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11
Senior outside hitter Ralph Johnson had 25 kills and senior opposite Emilio Alvardo had 22 digs and senior setter Farid Saffari had 63 assists for host L.A. University (13-1). L.A. University will play No. 6-ranked Chatsworth on Friday for the city championship.

INVITATIONAL DIVISION

Semifinals

Reseda d. Belmont, 23-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-22
Junior outside hitter Jagroop Toor had 31 kills and sophomore setter Ben Karzai had 40 assists for host Reseda (13-3). Belmont is 10-6. Reseda will play Friday in the finals.