All three Lamorinda boys volleyball teams advanced to the third round of the NCS playoffs.

CAMPOLINDO 

    After an uncharacteristic under .500 season, head coach David Chen has brought the team back this season with a 26-7 record in the very competitive Foothill League. “This is a well-balanced team with 12 juniors and seniors and six sophomores and freshmen, with contributions from every class,” Chen said. “As a group, we have a very good culture and vibe in that everyone really gets along well, enjoying each other’s company. There isn’t a lot of division in the group which is really nice.”  

    Chen has a team that brings a lot of height to their offense led by 6’7” Claes Bell, 6’6” Noah Henry, and 6’7” Finn Harvey. “Claes is our pin and he has been doing a lot for us as our outside hitter, anchoring us a lot along with Noah is a middle blocker. Finn has been working really hard on his defensive game. Jake Askew is another effective outside hitter as is freshman Beckett Langkammerer. They’re all finding a way to play.”

    Senior co-captain Alex Chng is the team’s starting setter. “Alex is doing a great job and we’re mixing in other setters as well. We’re using more substitutes than I have usually done because we’re trying to learn from our past where we played so many matches, we just got run down. Most of our returners have done a really great job in conditioning themselves coming into the season.”

    Senior co-captain Andrew Hanhan is the team’s libero. “He’s another player that’s been one of our anchors in the back row and has been doing a great job with the previous year of experience and maturity,” Chen said. “We have a lot of players playing various roles and we have Jaden Ta seeing time on defense and Knox Smith Vuong playing the right back position and Jake Askew is being used as both an outside hitter and on defense.”

    Chen has learned from the team’s losses. “We’ve got to find a way to create the headspace to compete. Oftentimes when you lose, it’s tough to read that part of the game or you’re just competing rather than being concerned with the loss so it’s a matter of having the headspace to play free and be okay with the results.”

    As the fifth seed in Division I, Campolindo won their first match 3-0 over Castro Valley. They then defeated the fourth seeded Las Lomas 3-2, 15-8 in the fifth set, and will be playing at top-seeded Northgate on May 12. 

MIRAMONTE

    It’s been a major turnaround for Miramonte volleyball. After winning only 12 games over the prior four seasons, the team has won 16 games heading into the playoffs.

    Entering his third season as the head coach, Aria Jahangiri saw the change coming into the season. “It’s really a culmination of seniors that have been working together the last few years, gelling, and finally developing the teamwork and overall improvement in their skills necessary to win. We’ve also had an influx of freshmen who have been playing volleyball starting with the youth programs and they have made a big impact.”

    Jahangiri also acknowledged his captains as another key to the team’s attitude and improvement. “There has been a lot of stepping up from our captains, Ryan Balonick, a four-year player, and Mercer Ehrhorn-Lung who saw this season as their chance to win this year. 

    After winning the Livermore tournament in March and getting a piece of silverware under our belts, I felt it with every starter and they saw that they could punch into the upper level of our league and make it to the North Coast Sectionals.”

    The offense has been led by Balonick, Ehrhorn-Lung, freshman Tyson Flournoy and Jayden An. “At outside hitter, Ryan has been the base of our offense and the go-to guy that gets points for us,” Jahangiri said. “Mercer has made great strides and plays anywhere we need him. Tyson has really stepped and shined as the team’s only setter and team’s quarterback. Jayden and freshman Henry Kopelson have been valuable backups when players have gone down.”

    With a stronger front line, Jahangiri has begun to use a Red Defense. “We had enough tools to be able to run that type of defense and it has paid off, getting out of a lot of situations.”

    Freshman Brendon Collins has been the leader on defense. “Brendon is a great athlete that also runs track and is our pure libero and has really grown since he began as a freshman, and now he’s the big leader on the back row telling the freshmen what to do,” Jahangiri said. “Our four freshmen have brought in a lot of club experience with Reid Souter and Landon Hall also providing a lot of depth to the team.”

    With the team’s newfound success, Jihangiri has been looking for more all season. “I want us to be more polished as a serve and receive team, having more communication and seeing them move their feet more.” 

    Miramonte got the No. 1 seed in Division 4 and won their first round match 3-1 against Kelseyville, their first post-season victory since MaxPreps has kept records in 2008. They won their second round match against Quarry Lane (Dublin) 3-0 and will have another home match on May 12 against Mt. Eden (Hayward).

ACALANES 

    In his first year as the varsity head coach, coming over from the JV team, it’s been a learning experience for Steve Long. “What I love about this team is that every player is just so unique with their individual personalities and are motivated by different things figuring out what it is for each of those individual players. I’m super encouraged by just how caring and supportive they are for each other and that has been a real joy.”

    Long is not one to be locked into one way of playing the game. “Adjusting is just paying attention to the little things out on the court and we constantly monitor if we’re in the right system and have the right matchup.”

    Long has been running a 5-1 offense with Arthur Tam moving to setter from outside hitter. Preston Hilsabeck and Gage Svoboda are set in the middle and with Mason Briones on the outside, along with two freshmen, Jake Mikalis and Kaan Dalan. “Preston and Gage are both very strong in the middle and have a great attack, especially when we get the good set and pass,” Long said. “Mason is able to play on either side and has the vision to read what the other team is doing to make the strategic hit. Jack and Kaan both are able to play at the front, getting good hits and blocks and can play in the deep row with good movement laterally and anticipation.”

    Makoto Kuniyoshi has always been a libero and it has been showing in his play. “Makoto has the ability to get to everything, reading the other side of the court and positioning himself correctly in anticipation of where the ball is coming from,” Long said. As the season progressed, Long focused on improving the team’s getting the serve and making a strong pass to the setter. After finishing the regular season with a 12-13 record, as the 10th seed in Division 2, Acalanes defeated the 7th seeded Heritage 3-2, 16-14 in the fifth set and then defeated Redwood in the second round 3-2, 15-13 in the fifth set. The Dons will be playing their next match on the road at Moreau Catholic (Haward) on May 12.