Clairemont halts comeback bid by rival La Jolla to capture first CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 boys volleyball crown in program history

SAN DIEGO – Clairemont continued to showcase two of the most promising underclassmen in the CIF-San Diego Section this season in sophomore middle blocker Sean Sumner and freshman outside hitter Grant Schmidt.

But when it came time for the second-seeded Chieftains to turn away yet another comeback attempt from City Western League rival and No. 5 seed La Jolla in the Division 2 section final, Clairemont’s stellar senior class rose to the occasion Saturday at the Vassiliadis Athletic Center at Francis Parker School.

Post-match interviews

Whether it was the tenacious defense of libero Charlie Atterholm, the effective decision making of setter Brady Semanisin, the relentless blocking of Gabe Tocco or the efficient hitting of Makoa Miner and Sam Reedholm, the Chieftains had their seniors seize the momentum with an early six-point run in the fourth set to secure a 25-23, 25-20, 25-27, 25-17 victory and the program’s first title.

Clairemont boys volleyball senior class celebrates program’s first CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 title | Erik Boal photo

Clairemont (26-10) prevailed against La Jolla (18-23) for the third time this season, also achieving four-set triumphs April 14 and 18, and extended its winning streak against the Vikings to five in a row, including a pair of victories last year.

The Chieftains finally captured their first section crown following a loss against Granite Hills in the 2023 Division 3 final, along with a setback to Francis Parker in the 2003 Division 4 championship match.

La Jolla, making its first appearance in a section final since losing in the Open Division final in 2018, was pursuing a sixth overall championship. The Vikings captured the Open Division crown in 2017.

La Jolla was making its first appearance in a CIF-San Diego Section boys volleyball final since 2018 | Erik Boal photo

Clairemont nearly achieved a sweep, rallying from a 24-21 deficit in the third set to tie the score behind a missed serve and hitting error from La Jolla, followed by a Tocco block.

Nicolas Bardaro, a sophomore, helped the Vikings regain the advantage following a quick attack in the middle, but Tocco tied it again at 25-25 with a putaway of his own.

Adam Grushkevich won a joust at the net to produce a 26-25 lead for La Jolla, which finally capitalized on a fifth set point when Clairemont’s shot sailed wide to extend the match.

Myles Plaskonos buried the ball down the line to give the Vikings a 3-2 advantage in the fourth, but a missed serve by La Jolla sparked a run of six unanswered points for Clairemont, which never relinquished control the rest of the way.

The Chieftains built their lead to as much as nine on three occasions in the fourth, as Semanisin ran a balanced offense and Clairemont also benefited from an imposing block to regain momentum.

Despite a pair of kills by senior right-side hitter Ben Salmon helping La Jolla close to within 24-17, Reedholm finessed a cross-court shot off the La Jolla block and the ball landed in the middle of the court, helping Clairemont finally celebrate the biggest victory in program history.

Reedholm, a 5-foot-1 outside hitter, had 12 kills, with Miner producing a team-high 14 kills to go along with five blocks for the Chieftains.

Schmidt contributed nine kills and five blocks in his first finals appearance, with Sumner achieving eight kills and a match-high 13 blocks in his first championship match.

Tocco achieved seven kills and nine blocks, with Semanisin recording 50 assists and 11 digs, in addition to Atterholm collecting 16 digs for Clairemont.

Clairemont defeated La Jolla for the third time this season to win CIF-San Diego Section Division 2 crown | Erik Boal photo

The Chieftains nearly relinquished a 24-19 lead in the opening set, before a La Jolla hitting error helped Clairemont close out the victory.

The Vikings were in a strong position to pull even, building a 17-14 advantage in the second set. Clairemont responded by producing seven of the next eight points, with Miner, Reedholm and Schmidt combining for five kills during the stretch to secure a three-point lead.

La Jolla was unable to regroup, as a serving error and two hitting miscues helped the Chieftains gain a 24-20 advantage, with Tocco and Semanisin combining for an impressive block to provide Clairemont with a two-set lead.

Salmon had a match-high 18 kills, Plaskonos contributed 11 kills, Bardaro added nine kills and Grushkevich contributed 41 assists for the Vikings, who also received five kills and 12 digs from Jake Morrison, as well as 18 digs from libero Dallas King.

Clairemont has an opportunity to compete Tuesday in the regional playoffs, with the Chieftains seeking their first state victory in program history.