Sophomores Jeremiah Potasi and Michael Galvin step up for Mater Dei boys volleyball team in victory in Division 2 regional playoff opener against scrappy St. Augustine

SANTA ANA – Mater Dei needed to rely on timely swings Tuesday from both of Jeremiah Potasi’s arms.

The Monarchs had to count on the poise and composure from their second setter Michael Galvin.

And the reigning CIF-Southern Section Division 2 boys volleyball champion also benefited from the front-row presence of a pair of seniors in Dylan Gallagher and Jack Jadon in order to prevail against visiting St. Augustine.

Post-match interviews

Mater Dei, the top seed in the Southern California Regional in the Division 2 state playoffs, demonstrated not only its versatility and resourcefulness by having to make a significant lineup adjustment only a few hours before the match against the No. 8 Saints, but also showcased its resolve by rallying following a tough setback in the opening set to emerge victorious with a 30-32, 25-22, 25-14, 25-23 victory at Meruelo Athletic Center.

Mater Dei boys volleyball team is seeking the inaugural Division 2 state title | Photo courtesy of Mater Dei

The Monarchs (28-12-2) secured their first regional playoff victory since 2011 and advanced to Thursday’s showdown with No. 5 Classical Academy (26-13), which swept L.A. City Section Open Division champion El Camino Real by a 25-20, 25-8, 25-21 margin.

Mater Dei won the inaugural Division 2 regional crown in 2009, and the Monarchs are setting their sights on making history again by pursuing a title in the first year that state championships will be decided in four divisions May 31 at Fresno City College.

After helping Mater Dei capture its first CIF-Southern Section title since 2011 with Friday’s four-set victory against Peninsula, junior setter Jake Newman left school early Tuesday and went home feeling ill, resulting in Galvin taking over the setting duties and fellow sophomore Beck Schobel playing libero.

Galvin responded in remarkable fashion, achieving a career-high 53 assists, in addition to nine digs, four blocks and two kills.

Potasi, another sophomore standout for the Monarchs, was his favorite target, producing a career-high 25 kills in 60 attempts, diversifying his attack by using his left and right hands, as well as hitting cross court, placing the ball in the deep corner, hitting behind the 10-foot line and adding tips and roll shots to keep St. Augustine (21-12) off balance throughout the match.

Potasi, who surpassed his previous career-high 22 kills March 14 against Corona del Mar, added eight digs, three blocks and two assists for Mater Dei, which also benefited from Gallagher contributing 11 kills, seven blocks and two aces, as well as Jadon recording nine kills, nine digs and three blocks.

Jeremah Potasi of Mater Dei boys volleyball team had a career-high 25 kills against St. Augustine | Erik Boal photo

Ben Smith, a junior outside hitter for the Monarchs, had 15 kills, 19 digs and two blocks, with senior Cameron Massoudi adding four blocks and Schobel collecting 10 digs.

Mater Dei held a 21-16 advantage in the opening set, before St. Augustine rallied with five consecutive points to pull even.

The Monarchs, who were victimized by 17 unforced errors in the opener, still had five set points but were unable to capitalize.

St. Augustine rallied from a 30-29 deficit behind a kill from senior middle blocker Owen Adams, a solo block by freshman Noah Pabarcus and a Mater Dei hitting error to complete its comeback.

The Monarchs relinquished a 10-4 advantage in the second, as St. Augustine scored seven unanswered points to grab its only lead of the set.

Mater Dei regrouped behind a pair of blocks from Massoudi, another from Jadon and an ace by Smith to secure a 14-11 lead.

The Saints again made it difficult for Mater Dei to close out the second, rallying from a 24-19 deficit by fighting off three set points on a kill by junior Nick Boeh, a solo block from Adams and a Monarchs’ hitting error.

Potasi, who had five kills in the second, helped Mater Dei secure the momentum with a well-placed shot on the Monarchs’ fourth set point.

Mater Dei relied on a four-point run midway through the third to grab a 15-10 advantage and never relinquished control, with Potasi producing seven kills and Smith contributing four kills during the set. Potasi achieved double-digit kills for the Monarchs in his 10th consecutive match.

St. Augustine, the CIF-San Diego Section Division 1 champion, had opportunities in the fourth to extend the match to a deciding fifth set, rallying from an early four-point deficit to secure a 19-18 lead.

St. Augustine boys volleyball team had its seven-match winning streak halted by Mater Dei | Erik Boal photo

The teams forced 16 ties in the fourth, including at 23-23 following a kill by Hugo Hunt for the Saints.

Smith’s 15th kill provided Mater Dei with a match point and St. Augustine saw an attempted quick attack in the middle land in the net on its final swing, snapping a run of seven consecutive victories – including a sweep of Mission Vista in Friday’s section final at Mira Mesa High – and helping the Monarchs advance.

Boeh led the Saints with 12 kills, Adams added 11 kills and four blocks, Pabarcus produced 10 kills and 21 assists, Ryan Reichenberg recorded seven kills, Luke O’Leary contributed six kills and Oliver Fendley collected 23 assists for St. Augustine, which was scheduled to have its team banquet Wednesday.

In order to advance to the first Division 2 state final, Mater Dei will have to potentially knock off three San Diego Section opponents, with No. 6 Canyon Crest Academy and No. 2 Francis Parker squaring off Thursday in the other regional semifinal.