Manhattan Beach Surf, High Line Wins 18s Boys' Titles

Bill Kauffman
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

AUSTIN, Texas (July 5, 2010) – Manhattan Beach Surf 18s (Southern California) and High Line Volleyball Club 2009-2010 18 Black (Southern California) respectively captured 18 Open and 18 Club Divisions titles Monday afternoon at the 2010 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships being held July 2-9 at the Austin Convention Center in Texas.

In front of an event record crowd estimated at 2,300 fans, Manhattan Beach Surf 18s rallied from deficits in the first and third sets to come-from-behind to defeat silver-medalist Outrigger 18s (Aloha) 25-23, 21-25, 15-13 in the 18 Open Division championship match. In the opening set, Outrigger gained a 19-16 advantage following an ace by Logan Nowack. However, Manhattan Beach Surf crawled back into a tie at 22-all and ended the set at 25-23 capped by a block from Kevin Donohue.

Outrigger climbed into an early 7-4 lead in the second set and reached a seven-point differential at 21-14. Manhattan Beach Surf cut the deficit down to two points at 22-20, but Outrigger scored three of the final four points ending with a Henry Cassiday kill.

Outrigger claimed a 7-4 lead in the tie-breaking third set after three Manhattan Beach Surf errors and a Nowack block. Manhattan Beach Surf inched back into the set and tied it at 11-all on a Donohue block. After the teams traded service errors, Manhattan Beach Surf took its first lead of the final set at 13-12 with a kill from Vaun Lennon. On match point, Christopher Heppell and Bryce Miller put up a combined block for the winner at 15-13.

“We knew the ball was going to be set to the outside, partly because I am short,” Miller said of the final play of the match. “We were able to put up the block to win. Actually, the play was somewhat like déjà vu for me. My 15s team (then Riptide 15 Orange) put up a block on the final play to win the match and Junior National title. And I was MVP of that tournament and was named all-tournament this year.”

The 18 Open Division most valuable player was Manhattan Beach Surf 18s’ Steve Irvin. Joining Irvin and on the all-tournament team were Micah Christenson (Outrigger 18s), Taylor Crabb (Outrigger 18s), Kevin Donohue (Manhattan Beach Surf 18s), Robert Feathers (Manhattan Beach Surf 18s), Nick Goodell (Pittsburgh VBC 18-1), Steve Morales (Envol Elite), Bryce Miller (Manhattan Beach Surf 18s), Wes Neilson (Balboa Bay 18 Quiksilver), Rob Page (Rochester Bootlegger 18), Matt Phillips (D1 VBC), Scott Sakaida (Outrigger 18s), Taylor Sander (Orange County VC), Daniel Tublin (Pittsburgh VBC 18-1), and Danny Woodley (Epic 18 Darrell).

Manhattan Beach Surf defeated Envol Elite (Puerto Rico) 25-21, 25-21 in the quarterfinals and Pittsburgh Volleyball Club (Keystone) 25-13, 25-22 in the semifinals to reach the title match. Outrigger downed D1 18 Green (Great Lakes) 32-30, 25-17 in the quarterfinals and Orange County Volleyball Club 18s (Southern California) 25-18, 25-23 in the semifinals to advance to the gold-medal match. Orange County VC topped Pittsburgh VC 25-21, 25-22 to win the bronze medal.

High Line swept Seaside 25-23, 25-22 to win the 18 Club Division gold-medal match. It used three unanswered points to take a 12-8 advantage mid-way through the opening set. Seaside rallied with two consecutive blocks and an ace as part of a 4-0 run to tie the set at 21-all. However, High Line responded with the final two points of the set to win 25-23.

Seaside picked up a 13-10 advantage in the second set, only to have High Line bounce back to tie take the lead at 16-15 on a 6-2 scoring spurt. High Line pocketed a two-point cushion at 20-18 and scored the final two points of the set to win 25-22.

Jake MacRae of High Line 18 Black was named the 18 Club Division most valuable player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Ray Adams (High Line 18 Black), Carter Cassell (Matchpoint), Steven Crane (Legacy), Connor Frehlich (Calgary Elite West), Harrison Hodgin (Pali 18 Kaepa), Ben Hunt (High Line 18 Black), Kyle Kriebel (Seaside 18-Mikasa), Dylan Marquess (High Line 18 Black), Will McCracken (Spectrum), Christian McManus (Spectrum), David Sheulin (Seaside 18-Mikasa), Matthew Wade (High Line 18 Black), John Walsh (Seaside 18-Mikasa) and Ian Zavala (Pali 18 Kaepa).

High Line reached the title match by defeating Calgary Elite West (Canada) 25-18, 25-21 in the quarterfinals and Pali 18 Kaepa (Southern California) 25-23, 19-25, 18-16 in a semifinal marathon. Seaside defeated Legacy 18-1 (Southern California) 25-21, 25-20 in the quarterfinals and Spectrum 18s (Southern California) in the semifinals to reach the gold-medal match. Spectrum 18s bounced back to win the bronze medal with a 20-25, 25-14, 15-11 victory over Pali 18 Kaepa.

To view teams competing in the event, schedules, brackets or results, click here.

USA Volleyball, in partnership with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), will video stream three days worth of championship matches during the event. The broadcast schedule includes gold medal matches for Open and Club Divisions in 18s (July 5), 16s (July 6) and 15s (July 7) age groups. The streaming video can be accessed at usavolleyball.org/live.

For more information on the USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships, visit usavolleyball.org/events/2403.

2010 USA Volleyball Boys’ Junior National Championships Schedule
12 Club (July 2-4): Gold – Narajinto Envol (Puerto Rico); Silver – Vaqueros 12-1 (Puerto Rico); Bronze – Torrimar 12-2 (Puerto Rico)
13 Club: Cancelled due to limited team registrations
14 Club: July 5-8
14 Open: July 5-8
15 Club: July 4-7
15 Open: July 4-7
16 Club: July 3-6
16 Open: July 3-6
17 Club: July 6-9
17 Open: July 6-9
18 Club (July 2-5): Gold – High Line Volleyball Club 2009-2010 18B (Southern California); Silver – Seaside 18-Mikasa (Southern California); Bronze – Spectrum 18s (Southern California)
18 Open (July 2-5): Gold – Manhattan Beach Surf 18s; Silver – Outrigger 18 (Aloha); Bronze – Orange County Volleyball Club 18-1 (Southern California)

Tags: USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships