Mount Madonna wins SSCAL volleyball title

Mount Madonna High School's P.K. Hattis makes one of his five kills Friday during his team's victory over San Lorenzo Valley. .... photo by Jon Chown

APTOS — Victory can be even sweeter if flavored with a bit of revenge.

The Mount Madonna boys volleyball team defeated San Lorenzo Valley in three straight sets Friday night to claim the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title, a seed in the Central Coast Section playoffs and payback for the teams’ defeat last year in the championship match to SLV.

“We had five returning starters and they all remembered losing to this team,” Mount Madonna coach Elliot McDonald said.

Mount Madonna trailed early in each set, but came back each time, winning the first set 25-17, the second 25-23 and the final 25-21. McDonald said SLV did a great job of containing the Mustangs’ star player P.K. Hattis, who finished with five kills and seven errors.

“That was due to their blocking and really focusing on him,” McDonald said. “But we had other players step up.”

Jake Getz had 10 kills, Ben Mangus had five kills and three blocks, and Ryan Alfaro had five kills and 24 assists.

“It was really an all around team effort,” McDonald said. “I feel like this was really good preparation for the playoffs. They (SLV) definitely highlighted some areas we need to improve on.”

The CCS playoffs start Tuesday. McDonald said he wouldn’t find out what seed his team is until later today. Last year Mount Madonna made the CCS playoffs, but lost in the first round.

“That was disappointing,” the coach said. “We expect to make a long run in the playoffs this year.”



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