Mater Dei defeats Buchanan to capture Division 2 boys volleyball state championship, winning first title in California prep history

FRESNO – Even after enduring a first set where the Mater Dei High boys volleyball team was victimized by 12 unforced errors Friday night in the inaugural CIF Division 2 state championship match, Monarchs head coach Jake Nuneviller kept reminding himself and his players that he wouldn’t trade positions with Buchanan High for any reason.

Despite the less-than-favorable position of playing from behind, it has been the “MO for MD” throughout the year, especially in the postseason, and the Monarchs thrived in that role again at Fresno City College.

Mater Dei had four athletes achieve at least 10 kills, including a match-high 16 kills from sophomore outside hitter Jeremiah Potasi, and two clutch attacks from junior Ben Smith late in the second set helped the Monarchs regain momentum, which they never relinquished in a 17-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 victory to become the first state boys volleyball championship team in California prep history.

Post-match interviews

Mater Dei (31-12-2) rallied after dropping the first set for the third time in the postseason, including the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 final May 16 against Peninsula, to conclude the year with an eight-match winning streak.

Mater Dei concluded the season on an eight-match winning streak, capped by securing a Division 2 boys volleyball state title | Erik Boal photo

Jack Jadon, a Mira Costa transfer and senior right-side hitter, had the final two kills for Mater Dei and finished with 10 kills and eight digs, with fellow senior Dylan Gallagher adding 10 kills, six blocks, two digs and two aces, and middle blocker Cameron Massoudi contributing three kills and four blocks in his last career volleyball match, before all three student-athletes were scheduled to participate in their high school graduation Saturday morning.

Jadon extended the Mater Dei lead to 24-18 with a cross-court attack, before a missed serve by the Monarchs and an ace from Buchanan senior John Kellogg saved a pair of match points.

But Mater Dei junior setter Jake Newman, who finished with 41 assists, eight digs, five blocks and two kills, went back to Jadon again and his final swing redirected off the Buchanan block and the ball fell to the floor, setting off the Monarchs’ celebration.

Mater Dei head boys volleyball coach Jake Nuneviller holds Division 2 state championship trophy following four-set victory against Buchanan | Erik Boal photo

The turning point for Mater Dei came at the conclusion of the second set, as the Monarchs were tied at 20, 21, 22 and 23, facing a potential two-set deficit against Buchanan (30-17).

But Smith placed a shot in the deep corner to pull ahead 24-23 and then followed by hitting the ball off the Bears’ block to help Mater Dei pull even.

Smith, who contributed 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks, continued to be a catalyst in the third set, as Mater Dei quickly built a 10-5 advantage and never looked back.

The Monarchs surged to a 14-10 lead in the fourth, before Buchanan senior middle blocker Cohen Van Beever produced back-to-back kills to cut the deficit in half.

Mater Dei responded with seven of the next 10 points, including kills from Gallagher, Potasi, Jadon and Smith, and despite Kellogg extending the contest, the Bears were unable to deny the Monarchs the historic first championship.

Beck Schobel, a sophomore libero, recorded five digs and Potasi added eight digs and two blocks for Mater Dei, which won the Division 2 regional crown in the first year the tournament was held in 2009, before capturing Trinity League, section, regional and state championships this season.

Mater Dei players and their families celebrate winning first Division 2 boys volleyball state title in California prep history | Erik Boal photo

Mater Dei has now won state titles in boys volleyball, girls volleyball, boys basketball, girls basketball and football, including the Monarchs securing back-to-back Open Division football championships in December following a 37-15 victory against Concord De La Salle, giving the program five state crowns overall.

Kellogg had a team-high 10 kills, Van Beever added nine kills and Nathan Webb contributed seven kills for Buchanan, which won its first Northern California Regional championship after capturing a Division 1 Southern California Regional title in 2011.