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Brentwood Eagles Boys' Volleyball Team
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The Cresenta Valley Varsity Tournament Champions '07
April 28, 2007
SWEEPING ALL 12 GAMES, WITH THREE NAMED TO THE ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM, THE MOHAWKED TEAM, BESTED ANY AND ALL OPPONENTS
While the Eagles have had trouble with their league opponents, they have shined when not faced with a Division I team or an Olympic League opponent. While the Eagles sit with a 2-5 league record, they are 17-8 for the year. If they make the CIF playoffs, we trust they could be a force. However, since they will be an at large team, they will have to face the mighty in the first round and if they get by that, who knows what can happen.
The Eagles exhibited how good they can be this past weekend. They returned to the Crescenta Valley Varsity Tournament at Crescenta Valley High School. Last year they played well but were knocked out in the quarter-finals. This year captain Tito Goldstein decided it was time to inspire the team. He did so by coming to play in his “Hawk.” Sporting a classic Mohawk hairdo, Goldstein arrived ready to play.
The sixteen team Crescenta Valley Tournament involves some of the best teams from Divisions III through V of the CIF Southern Section. Paraclete from the Olympic League and the number 4-ranked team in Division III was the number 1 seed. Viewpoint, the number 1-ranked team in Division V was the number 2 seed. Los Altos, ranked number 6 in Division III was the third seed. The Eagles were seeded 6 and thus were in a four team pool headed by Los Altos.
First up for the Eagles on Friday was Righetti, a Division II team that had to travel from Santa Maria. The Eagles immediately took control. They won the first point and then Tito Goldstein blasted an ace, while he netted his next serve, the Eagles came right back as Will McCabe set Michael Davidov for a kill. Next McCabe set Goldstein for a kill, then Alex Sigoloff aced the competition. When McCabe set Goldstein again for a kill the Eagles had made a statement and were leading 6-1. From there, they rolled through game 1, winning 25-16. Game two was not much different. Only this time they waited until Patrick Norton, their third server in rotation game on to make a big run to control of the game and the lead. When Norton’s first service turn came to an end, the Eagles held an 11-3 lead. Match one was in hand. Final score of this game was again 25-16.
Next up for the Eagles was La Canada. For those of you who follow the Eagles, you will remember that in last year’s tournament, the Eagles played La Canada in the quarterfinals and fell 15-17 in three games. However, they later had to travel to La Canada for a CIF quarterfinal match and bested their hosts in an incredibly exciting five game match.
This year La Canada did not pose much of a challenge. The Eagles were easily able to come away with a two game sweep. The Eagles took the opening serve and McCabe set Norton for a precise kill. Goldstein then served an ace, Matt Moore then blocked the attempt to return the service and Goldstein followed with two aces. The Eagles had a comfortable 5-0 lead and they cruised from there, winning game 1: 25-20, but the game was never that close. Game 2 was even more one sided. Norton came on to serve with the Eagles leading just 5-3 and completed his rotation with the score standing 13-4. The Eagles went on to win 25-8 with Sigoloff serving out the last five points.
Last up for the Eagles on day one of the tournament was Los Altos, the team ranked number six in Division III, and the number one seed in the Eagles pool. The Eagles did not start well. While they earned the first two points, they soon trailed 2-4, with the deficit extending to 5-8, 10-13, and 12-15. However, the Eagles made up one point during each of the next two service rotations. The teams then traded points, each time Los Altos would score and the Eagles would return the favor, resulting in the score being tied at 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21. However, after the Eagles fell behind at 21-22, they did not earn the tie point, instead they fell behind 21-23. Coach Ryan called a timeout and when the teams returned to the court, the Eagles won the next two points, the first on a Goldstein kill and the second on a Los Altos error, to tie the score. Los Altos earned the next point, but then netted their serve and the game stood tied at 25. The Eagles took the lead on a Goldstein kill, but Los Altos came right back and sided-out.
The Eagles were undaunted. On the ensuing serve, McCabe set Goldstein, who put the ball to the floor. Goldstein then stepped back and banged an ace, putting the first game in the Eagles win column: 28-26.
In Game 2, the Eagles again fell behind: 4-6. This time they tied the score at 9 and then behind Davidov’s serves, including two aces, moved out to a 15-11 lead. With the lead at 20-14, Los Altos took a timeout, but it was of no consequence. The Eagles went on to with game 2: 25-19. Day one was over and the Eagles had swept their way into the Gold Bracket with six straight wins. The comment from one player is that everyone except maybe Goldstein had played the best volleyball of the year. The Eagles were playing well, but the competition would be much stiffer on day two as they faced the other teams that had cruised through their pools.
Day 2 proved to be more of the same. First up, was Oak Park, the defending champions and the runner’s up in Division IV last year. Last year’s tournament MVP returned as Oak Park’s setter. In game 1, the Eagles made an immediate statement. Goldstein blocked the initial attack by Oak Park for the opening point. He then went back to serve. His first serve was returned but McCabe quick set Bayo Ojuri, who banged the ball to the ground for point two. Goldstein then nailed two aces; Oak Park called a timeout and the Eagles were on their way to a quarterfinal victory. When the score reached 12-5, Oak Park took its second timeout. It did not change the momentum. The Eagles went on to win game 1: 25-19.
Game 2 was close all the way to its end. While the Eagles moved to a 4-1 lead, the score was soon even at 4. The Eagles moved again to the lead, only to be tied at 10. They then lost the lead and trailed at 11-12 and 12-14.
At this point, they won the next three points to lead 15-14. The lead was short lived. The Eagles trailed 16-18, before charging back to take the lead at 19-18 and 21-19. A Moore block brought the Eagles to game point at 24-20, and they seemed to earn the next point. However, after a discussion, it was determined that the point should go to Oak Park. It took the Eagles three more tries before Norton slammed a ball to the floor for the Eagle victory: 25-23.
The win put the Eagles into the semifinals. It meant they had made a better showing than last year. However, they were confident. It was a different swagger than the team had previously exhibited. They were playing better than they had previously. Next up, was the number 1 seed in the tournament and the number 1-ranked team in Division V. Before the Eagles moved out of Division V, they had often battled Viewpoint in the CIF playoffs. Viewpoint had looked very good in their play during this tournament.
Before this match, in a showing of team solidarity, Kevin Skittles April and McCabe suddenly appeared with “Hawks” to match Goldstein’s. It is a look. We are not sure of the reason for the statement, but it is a statement. Is it a tribute to possibly being the last of their tribe? Is it just to show they are a team? No matter, it clearly was inspiring.
In game 1, in what was to be a perfect tournament, the Eagles played a perfect game. They quickly lost the first two points, but then McCabe set Goldstein and bang, the Eagles were on the board. Goldstein blasted a serve, which was returned, but McCabe set Davidov and the Eagles had tied the score. While the next point went to Viewpoint, it was followed by a McCabe set of Goldstein on the pipe and the score was tied. This was the last tie. Sigoloff came on to serve. In response to his first two serves Viewpoint hit long. Then McCabe set Norton and down the ball went. Then Norton and Moore teamed up for a block, running the score to 8-3 and causing Viewpoint to call a timeout.
When the teams returned to the court, Moore and Norton again teamed on a block for a point. Then McCabe set Norton, point number 10; next McCabe set Goldstein, point 11; a Viewpoint error and the score stood 12-3. The team had scored ten straight points.
While they then lost a point, they responded to sideout on a Norton kill, bringing Norton on to serve. When his service turn ended, when he netted a serve, his run had included two Goldstein kills and an ace, and had brought the score to 19-4. A team could not have played a more perfect game to this point. Their perfection did slip away a little bit, as Viewpoint was able to earn five of the next six points. Moore then came on to serve with the score standing 21-9. The game win was assured, but it still had to be closed out. So what did he do? He blasted three straight aces. While Viewpoint did finally return his serve and earn a point, the Eagles immediately responded and on a Goldstein kill ended game 1: 25-10.
Game 2 started in the same way as Game 1. Viewpoint earned the first two points. The Eagles responded with a three-point run. They then fell behind 3-4. They took the lead 5-4 on a Davidov kill. The score was tied at 5 and then the Eagles took over. With Moore serving, the returns were easily handled by the Eagles and McCabe set Goldstein three straight times, which Goldstein pounded down. Moore then aced a point, then blasted the next serve and Goldstein blocked the return to bring the score to 14-6. It was now clear the Eagles would be in the finals. From there, the teams basically exchanged points, with the Eagles finally taking the game: 25-17. They had dominated a very good team. At this point, Norton, Moore and Greg Caruso agreed to join the “Hawk” club if the team prevailed in the finals. The 10 game, five match winning streak had brought the team that much closer. They were clearly having a goooood time.
However, there was still work to do. They still had to win the final. The opponent was soon learned to be South Pasadena. The Eagles had bested South Pas on the opening day of the season, so they knew they could be the champions.
Point one went to South Pas. The next two points were earned by the Eagles on two kills from the back row by Goldstein. The Eagles then fell behind losing the next two points. However, they surged into the lead while McCabe spread the ball, first setting Norton, then Goldstein, then Moore, all for kills. South Pas came back to tie the score at six, but they never again led. A Moore block, was followed by a Goldstein kill, a point was lost, then Moore blocked a ball to the floor, before blasting a serve for an ace. The Eagles had moved to a 10-7 lead. They were firing on all cylinders. They were definitively earning the points. Behind the serves of Davidov, they moved to a 19-14 lead and the game seemed well in hand.
However, they then suffered their one slip and lost the next four points to allow South Pas to close the score to 19-18. After the teams traded the next two points, McCabe then set Goldstein for the next two and bang, the Eagles led 22-19. Timeout South Pas.
When the teams returned, South Pas earned a point, but then McCabe set Norton and the Eagles were two points from the game victory. The teams traded the next two points and the Eagles were a point from victory. South Pas did not quit; it won the next two points to close to 24-23. The Eagles responded: McCabe set Goldstein and game 1 was in the books: 25-23 Eagles.
To start game 2, the teams traded points siding out for two rotations. The Eagles took the lead on a Norton kill, followed by a pair of blocks, the first by McCabe and the second by Davidov. From there, the Eagles either traded points or extended their lead moving out to a 13-7 lead after a Goldstein service run. South Pas did not quit, but rather closed to 14-12, when their server netted the serve, bringing on Norton to serve. In a day of big service runs for the Eagles, Norton’s was a perfect finish. The Eagles scored on his first serve as Moore blocked the ball to the ground. Norton then slipped in an ace, which seemed to demoralize the opponents, causing their coach to take a timeout to try and turn the tide and save the match.
It was not to be. Moore scored next on another block, the next four went to the Eagles as their opponents misfired. Another Moore block, another Norton ace and an error by the opponents, to the score to 24-12. It was a ten point run. The run then ended, but on the following serve, the Eagles returned it and the Viewpoint hit went long. The Eagles were tournament champions. They were bringing back hardware. All that was left was to pick up the hardware and then expand the “Hawk” club.
Four pieces of hardware were earned: The team championship trophy, All Tournament honors for Norton and McCabe and Tournament MVP for Goldstein. In winning the MVP, Goldstein tallied an impressive 100 points over the six matches (A point is earned for a kill, a block or an ace.
It was a perfect tournament. The Eagles had all played their best. All had contributed. While the names of Ojuri, Caruso and Aprilare not noted many times above, each contributed in important ways to the victory. Ojuri really seems to be "getting" the game. He had several important quick hit kills, which just demorailized the opponents. Caruso and April provided important defensive contributions as well as kept the others up and on their toys. Volleyball is a team game and on this team, everyone is needed to contribute.
The Eagles showed how good they can be. The question is whether there will be an at-large bid available. If not, it was a fitting end to the season (although they have at least a match against Paraclete on Tuesday). If the Eagles get a bid, it showed they can be a force. Let the Eagles soar!!!!
SO WHERE ARE THEY NOW???
April 9, 2008
This site represents four years of Brentwood Volleyball history. Remarkably, so many of the young men who are noted in these pages are still playing at the next level. They include:
Matt Ceran 04-Stanford
Nick Drake 04-U Penn, President of the Club Team
Sam Bartman 05- SMU Club Team and Coaching the Girls Club Team
Ilan Goldstein 05- NYU
Carter Rubin 05- Pitzer Club Team
Ryan Winn 06- Cornell Club Team
Tito Goldstein 07- USC
Michael Davidoff 07- U Penn Club Team
If I missed someone, I ask your foregiveness.
Tito Goldstein Beats A Triple Block
March 2, 2007
2007 ROSTER
Eagle Roster
Tito Goldstein 07' (#5)
Captain, 4th Year as a starter. League MVP and 1st Team All CIF in 2006. Tito will be the team’s go to guy again this year.
Michael Davidov 07"(#3)
Captain, 2nd Year as a starter. a football player who came to help out and is now a key hitter.
Alex Sigoloff 07"
Presently injured but counted on to help. Did not play last year but was an important contributor to the JV in 2005.
Adebayo Ojuri 07' (#15)
Never played volleyball before, but was a key member of the basketball team. Expected to be a big force in the middle as he learns the game.
Patrick Norton 08' (#2 and #11)
2nd Year as a starter. Expected to step up: do more offensively.
William McCabe 08' (#1)
2nd Year as a starter. 2nd Team All Olympic League in 2006. Will run the offense again, this time after leading the team to a League Championship in 2006.
William Thorne 08'
Never played volleyball before. Injured at the present time. Can’t wait for him to join the team.
Kevin April 08' (#7)
Never played volleyball before. Expected to provide important defensive help with his quickness.
Matthew Moore 09' (#8)
Led the JV last year and joined the Varsity for the playoffs. Expected to be a force in the middle. Brings a big jump serve also.
Gregory Caruso 10' (#6)
Never played volleyball. Only the third freshman to play on the Varsity in the last 12 years at Brentwood. Expected to contribute with his serve and defense.
RETURNING RUSTY FROM VACATION, THE EAGLES SPLIT THEIR OPENING WEEK MATCHES
April 14, 2007
The Brentwood Boys Volleyball team left for the spring break with a four match winning streak. They came back from vacation, not having practiced for two weeks, more than rusty. As a result, they split two match on the road during the week of return to school As a result, the Eagles will have to battle to make the playoffs, standing now fourth in the tough Olympic League.
Upon their return to the Court, the Eagles travelled to Campbell Hall. The two week lay showed. In addition, Greg Caruso was out and, in the opening points of the match, Bio Ojuri was hit in the eye and had to sit out until game four while his injury was being treated. He came back, showing his toughness, with his vision impaired. The result of lack of players and the rust that accumulated from not practicing was a loss. The Eagles went down 21-25, 16-25, 25-19, 15-25.
By Friday of the return week, the Eagles were a little bit more on track. They traveled to Winward. Even with Coach Ryan not in attendance, they had little trouble sweeping their hosts. The scores were 25-13,25-16,25-19.
The Eagles need to step it up during the last two weeks of the season. We trust they can as the newcomers have now seen some action, Old and new all need to do what they can. Let the Eagles soar!!!
EAGLES HEAD INTO SPRING VACATION WITH A FOUR MATCH WINNING STREAK.
April 8, 2007
As the Brentwood Boys Volleyball team returns to the court for the second half of the season, they know what they have to do to make the playoffs and continue to play. Having been through half the season, we wish to highlight the new players, not just new players to the team, but to the sport of volleyball. Three members of the Eagle Boys Varsity Team have never before played in a volleyball game. Yet each has contributed to the success of the team so far and more is expected of them in the coming matches.
Skittles April aka Kevin April is the smallest of the new Eagles. Skittles has picked up the game quickly and earned his first assist in a match the week before vacation. In the matches just before vacation, he was called on to perform and contribute and he, clearly, did as the team sweep through these matches.
Bio Ojuri is the biggest of the new Eagles. Bio stepped right into the starting lineup as the team was desperately in need of a middle broker. Bio’s 6'5" frame fit the bill perfectly. Each match has seen improved play from Bio. He has learned where to be and how to be up on the block in the little over a month he has played the sport. As noted below, he is a significant statistical contributor for the team.
The third “virgin” Eagle is Greg Caruso. Greg is just the third freshman on the varsity in the last decade. Greg has shown considerable poise and talent. He started several matches and has made big serves as well as provided defensive prowess while learning the game.
There are six other members of the team, not counting Will Thorne, who is injured and will never be able to contribute this year. Alex Sigoloff is new to the varsity, having previously, played for the jv. Matt Moore joined the varsity for the playoffs last year and is a key contributor. Patrick Norton, Michael Davidoff and Tito Goldstein are returning starters. Goldstein for the fourth straight year.
While in time’s past, new players, such as the three noted above, would have had the luxury of learning the game while playing on the Junior Varsity. That is not the case this year. This year each is needed to make significant contributions to the success of the team.
Before the break, the Eagles had a rush of matches. On Friday, March 16th, the Eagles hosted league rival Paraclete. Against Paraclete the Eagles won game 1, but then were bested in the next three games, falling in four. The scores were 25-21, 23-25, 20-25 and 22-25.
Next up, the very next day, the Eagles hosted Oakwood. It was their fourth match in five days. Given the Eagles small roster, there was a concern that they would be worn down by the number of games they were being asked to play in a short space of time. While the Eagles earned the first three points on a Will McCabe set of Patrick Norton, followed by Tito Goldstein ace and then a Norton block, this was not indicative of their slow start in this match, which may have been attributed to stiffness or fatigue, They soon trailed 4-5 and 7-8 before an amazing run behind the serves of Michael Davidoff, the Eagles ran off six straight points to take control of game one, which they won 25-20.
In game two, the Eagles again fell behind, but caught the visitors at 12 on another ace by Goldstein and then, this time, on a six-point run behind the serves of Norton, moved to a controlling 21-14 lead. They went on to win game two 25-16.
Game three saw the Eagles start well (4-1 lead) fall behind (6-7, 7-8 and 9-10) before taking control. The Eagles moved to a 20-14 lead and then closed out the match, winning game three: 25-22.
On March 20th, the Eagles traveled to Sun Valley for a league match against Village Christian. The Eagles easily bested Village 25-18, 25-18 and 26-24. The outcome of each game was never in doubt. The Eagles were always in control and were not really tested in any respect.
On March 23rd, the Eagles traveled south to North Torrance. The Eagles started slow losing 6 straight points after earning the initial point. They then climbed back, even moved into the lead at 13-12, but were unable to maintain that lead and fell behind 14-16.. Then behind the serves of Alex Sigoloff the Eagles moved to a 18-16 lead. But they remained not quite in synch and lost game one 21-25.
Game two saw the Eagles back on track. They quickly move to an 8-3 lead. While the hosts closed the gap, they were never able to even the score. The Eagles went on to win game 2: 25-19.
While the Eagles lost the first three points in game 3, they exuded confidence and trailed 7-11 when they sided out on a pass from McCabe to Norton for the kill to bring Goldstein on to serve. On the first serve, again McCabe set Norton for the kill. The hosts then hit out. Goldstein then followed with three powerful aces and the Eagles had a 14-12 lead, which they continued to extend and won game three: 25-19.
Game 4 was highlighted by a Norton service run of 9 points, taking the Eagles to a 13-2 lead. The match was then in the refrigerator. The Eagles went on to win this game: 25-14.
The next night the Eagles hosted Flintridge Prep and the burden of 7 matches in an 11 day period for a team with a roster of nine, showed in game one, which the Eagles lost. However, they overcame their fatigue and went on to win the next three games.
The Eagles thus return from break with a four match winning streak. The newcomers have now seen some action and we expect the Eagles will go on to earn a playoff birth with their play through the month of April.
VOLLEYBALL SPLITS ITS OPENING LEAGUE MATCHES
March 14, 2007
VOLLEYBALL SPLITS ITS OPENING LEAGUE MATCHES
The Brentwood Boys Varsity Volleyball team opened Olympic League play this week against its traditional rivals for the league crown. The Eagles hosted both matches. First up, on Tuesday, were the Village Christian Crusaders. The Eagles won the first point following a Tito Goldstein serve to open the match, but then found themselves trailing 1-5.
Coach Ryan called an immediate timeout and righted the flock. When play resumed the serve was passed to Will McCabe and he set Goldstein who pounded the ball to the floor. It was a statement play: The Eagles were now ready to go. They moved back into contention closing to 4-5. They tied the score at 7, and then traded points until they took their first lead on a block by Patrick Norton at 10-9.
While they fell behind at 10-12, they won the next two points to tie the score. They then again feel behind 12-15, before climbing to a 16-15 lead, the final point of the four point run coming on a back row blast from Matt Moore, who had served through this run. The lead quickly vanished as the Eagles trailed at 16-17, 17-18 and 19-20.
The Eagles then took over. A kill by Goldstein tied the score. Then Michael Davidoff set Norton for the lead. Greg Caruso followed with an ace and the visitors called timeout with the Eagles holding a 22-20 lead.
While the Crusaders earned the first point after the break, the Eagles were not to be headed. They won game one: 35-22.
Game two was all Eagles. They quickly moved to a 7-2 lead and were never headed. When the visitors closed to 9-7, Coach Ryan called a timeout. The Eagles quickly moved back to a 12-8 lead– a four point margin that was not to be impinged. The lead was extended to five at 19-14, went to seven at 23-16, and Village took a timeout. No consequence. The Eagles went on to win game three 25-17.
Game three was a seesaw event. Village earned the first three points. The Eagles took the next four. They took a two point lead at 6-4, but were caught at 6. Brentwood took 8 of the next 11 points and held a 14-9 lead and everyone expected the visitors to quit. It was not to be. The game was knotted at 15 and 16. The score stood at 19-18 when the Eagles went on a four point run that effectively brought home the victory behind the serves of Alex Sigoloff. Game three went to the Eagles 25-20. The Eagles had their first league victory over a vaunted opponent.
Returning to the Eagles dome a mere 24 hours later, the foe was Valley Christian, Co-Champions with our Eagles of the Olympic League last year and the sole Champions in 2005.
Whether it was fatigue or the opponent, the Eagles were unable to match their efforts against Village. They started very slowly. They were quickly down 5-10 and it looked like they would be outclassed. Instead the Eagles played even with the visitors during the middle of the game and then went on a five point run behind the serves of Will McCabe to tie the score at 20, but then they crashed and lost game one: 20-25.
They similarly started slowly in game two and were trailing 3-8, and then 9-15 before they started to close the score. However, while they closed to 19-22, they could get no closer and lost game two: 20-25.
The Eagles lost the first three points of game three and were never able to pull even. They ultimately lost game three 18-25.
The Eagles return to the Eagledome on Friday, when they host Paraclete.
THE 2007 SEASON BEGINS WELL
March 3, 2007
On March 2, 2007, the current version of the Brentwood Boys Varsity Volleyball team opened its season. As has been the tradition, the teams opens play by participating in the Redondo Union Preseason Tournament. Many of the top teams in Southern California participate. Brentwood always seems to be placed among the giants. Brentwood’s pool include Oakwood, a school with a smaller enrollment than Brentwood. South Pasadena, a school of over 2000 students and Peninsula, a school with over 3,000 students.
The Eagles opened the season with a roster without the experience of past teams. This year’s team opened with four players who were part of the varsity last year; one player who led the JV team last year and who was on the roster for the playoffs last year; and three players who had never been in a volleyball game at any level.
As six players take the court in volleyball, it meant that at every moment they will be playing, the Eagles will have a player playing for the first time in a volleyball match. Was this lack of experience going to problematic for the Eagles? This was the question to be asked on this first day of match competition.
It was interesting to watch the Eagles. Each play there was a discussion. The players who had been there before helped the players that had not. Were the Eagles a precision machine? No. But were they competitive and did they show promise? Absolutely.
DAY ONE WAS A SUCCESS
The Redondo Tournament starts with pool play. The Eagles pool included Oakwood, South Pasadena, and Peninsula. One small private school and two large public high schools. The Eagles, based upon history, were denominated the second seed; Oakwood the fourth. Thus, they were to play each other first.
The Eagles scored first, but then a serve was netted. The Eagles took the lead as Will McCabe dished out his first assist and Patrick Norton slammed the ball to the floor for the team’s first kill of the year. Michael Davidoff then provided the first ace of the year. However, Oakwood earned the next three points and the Eagles were behind 3-4. When McCabe set Matt Moore for a kill the Eagles had retaken the lead at 6-5and they never trailed again in this match. They moved to an 8-6 lead when Tito Goldstein was set for a backrow attack kill. When the lead went to 3 at 11-8, Oakwood called timeout to regroup. It did not help. On a kill by Patrick Norton and an ace by Michael Davidoff, the lead went to 15-10. On an ace by Patrick Norton, the score stood 18-12. After Oakwood earned a point, Goldstein did his thing. First MaCabe set him for a powerful slam. Then he went back to serve. While his first serve was returned, on MaCabe’s pass he put it down for a kill from the backrow. He followed this with four aces. The Eagles had a 24-13 lead. The ultimately won 25-17.
The Eagles started game two as they ended game one. They scored the first seven points, with Goldstein serving which included four more aces from Goldstein. With a kill by Moore and four by Goldstein, the score stood 12-4. At 17-7 Oakwood called timeout. While the gap was closed, the Eagles easily rolled to a 25-19 victory. Match one was in the record book. The highlights of the game were the first ace by Adebayo Ojuri and the first kill by Greg Caruso.
Next up for the Eagles was South Pasadena. Unlike the first match, the opponent scored first and moved out to a 2-4 lead, which was extended to 3-6. The Eagles then climbed back to tie the score at seven. However, the next four points went to South Pas. Taking one point at a time, not showing much concern, the Eagles tried to climb even but only reached 13-14, before South Pas scored three straight points to lead 13-17. This caused great concern in the Eagle faithful. This time Patrick Norton took over. First he took a set from McCabe and put it to the ground. He then went back to serve and, when his service rotation ended, the Eagles led 19-17. He had led the Eagles to a seven-point run. While Norton’s next serve failed, the Eagles responded to win the next three points and South Pas called timeout. The teams then traded points and then South Pas earned the next two points, causing Coach Ryan to call her first timeout. When the teams returned to the court, McCabe set Goldstein and the Eagles earned the final point for the win. Score: 25-21.
In game two, the Eagles lost the first two pints, but then they earned the next four, which included two aces by Goldstein. South Pas pulled even at seven, but then Davidoff set McCabe and followed that with an ace and the Eagles had a two-point lead, which they extended to three on a kill by Moore. The teams then traded points until a Goldstein block extended the lead to four at 18-14. With the score standing 22-19, Moore went back to serve and he served out the match. The Eagles won game two: 25-19. This meant they would finish no worse than second in the pool and would earn a position in the Gold Bracket, with a chance to win the tournament on day two, for the fifth straight year.
Next up was a very strong Peninsula team. While the Eagles challenged their south bay rivals, they did not prevail. They fell by the scores of 20-25 and 19-25 to the 3000+ student, division 1 power, which has more student in its senior class than Brentwood has on its east campus. The highlight of this match was the service run behind Greg Caruso’s serves in game one, during which the Eagles went from a 5-6 deficit to a 9-6 lead. Caruso also served during a second run when the Eagles came back from a 15-20 deficit to close the score to 18-20, and cause Peninsula to take a timeout.
As only once in the team’s history has Brentwood finished higher than second in its pool at this tournament, the season opening was clearly a success.
DAY TWO FOUND THE EAGLES AMONG THE BIG BOYS LEADING TO MIXED RESULTS
March 4, 2007
The second day of the Redondo Tournament is always very tough if you survive day one, as the Eagles did. First up for the Eagles was Mayfair, a school with a mere 3616 students. This was the fourth school in the progression of facing larger and larger schools. Oakwood had 476 students, South Pasadena 1550, Peninsula 1550, and Mayfair was not to be the largest school confronting the Eagles, but more about that later.
Mayfair is a high quality opponent. They have been in and around the CIF finals the last few years. And Mayfair, with its depth and quality put our tired Eagles down 20-25 and 15-25. It was clear the Eagles were just out of gas.
Given the undermanned or underboyed nature of the Eagles, the three matches on Friday, had their effect on their play on Saturday. While other teams have the ability to substitute all their players, the Eagles do not have that luxury. We would have liked to see a rested Eagles’ team take on their first two opponents on Saturday, but that is not what the schedule provides.
The Eagles second match on Saturday was against a fine Bishop Montgomery team. Bishop Montgomery is a school of only 1226 students. Our tired Eagles could not cope with this opponent and went down: 16-25 and 22-25. Clearly, in the second game the Eagles finally started to find their stride, but it was too late and not enough to pull out the match.
The Eagles final opponent of the day was Long Beach Poly, one of the top five football schools in the country. Every year numerous Division I players come out of Poly. Your guess at the number of students at this Division I power. The answer is 4835; just 10 times the size of Brentwood.
As they had in the first two matches of the day, our Eagles started slowly. They were behind 2-6 in less than a blink of an eye. But from that point, they started to play better. They closed the score to 21-22, but a timeout by Poly broke the momentum and Brentwood went down to 21-25 defeat.
A team without heart would have packed it in and called it a day. But our Eagles did not do that. They came out with some fire in game two and led 2-0, then 4-2, 5-3 and moved out to 8-5. The teams then more or less traded points but the Eagles were constantly expanding their lead. The Eagles went on to win 25-15. In winning this game, they scored 18 points. That means they won the points; they did not win because of the other team’s errors. It was a fine win. However, winning a game does not earn the match victory. The Eagles needed to continue their fine play.
And they did. Although Poly earned the first point in game three, the Eagles came right back to on an impressive block by Matt Moore and a Tito Goldstein ace, to take a 3-1 lead. However, Poly climbed even at three and then the Eagles made an impressive statement. They won seven straight points behind the pinpoint float serves of Michael Davidoff, with Goldstein earning a point on a block and two on kills, and Patrick Norton earning a kill. While Poly was able to earn a point, the Eagles followed by winning the next two and they held a 13-5 lead. They relaxed a little and lost two points, before Will McCabe set Moore who put the ball to the floor to bring the Eagles within a point of victory. When the Poly hit sailed wide, the Eagles had won this match against a school 10 times their size.
For the weekend, against mostly division one opponents, the Eagles had finished 3-3. We believe they were slotted in the toughest brackets. They had shown there is promise in this team. Tito Goldstein returning from a league MVP season led the team with: 62 kills, 6 blocks, 18 aces and 4 assists. Will McCabe has 107 assists, 2 kills 4.5 blocks and an ace. Patrick Norton had 20 kills, 2.5 blocks, 4 aces and 1 assist, Michael Davidoff had 10 kills, 2 aces and 2 assists; Matt Moore had 18 kills and 8 blocks. Bio Ojuri, in his first ever match, had 2 kills and a block and clearly was getting it by the end of day two. The same is true for the two other new players. Greg Caruso had a kill and an ace and had an impact on the service line. Kevin April had one assist and really patrolled the back line well when given the opportunity.
Next up for the Eagles is the Foothill tournament next Saturday.
Patrick Norton and Bio Ojuri Put Up The Big Block
March 2, 2007
Michael Davidoff Puts Down A Kill
March 2, 2007
Will McCabe Lets Go On His Float Serve
March 2, 2007
Matt Moore Makes A Kill
March 2, 2007
Looking Back
All of the 2004, 2005 and 2006 team and season information is available under the appropriate tab at the left.
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