Senior Andy Aguila was named Culver City High School volleyball team player of the week for leading the Centaurs to the semifinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division IV playoffs this week at San Gabriel High School. The Centaurs went on the road and beat Yucaipa High School, 3-2, last Saturday in the quarterfinals.
The outside-hitting Centaur captain helped guide Culver City High (17-13-1 overall, 5-4 in league) over Brentwood, 3-1, in the second round, and Santa Ana Valley, 3-0, in the playoff opener.
In the first round at Culver City on May 10, the Centaurs swept the Falcons, 25-20, 25-13, 25-17. The victory kept the Centaurs at home against third-seeded Brentwood, and Culver City stunned the Eagles in four games, 25-19, 27-25, 19-25, 25-23.
Last Saturday, the Centaurs traveled to Citrus Belt League champion Yucaipa in San Bernardino County and pulled off a thrilling five-game quarterfinal victory (25-23, 21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-13) to move into last Tuesday’s semifinal at second-seeded San Gabriel, the Almont League champion.
In last Saturday’s contest against the Thunderbirds, the Centaurs pushed their record to 22-10, led by setter Alex Aguilera, who had 42 assists, three blocks and 15 digs. Kekoa Mathews contributed 21 kills and 10 blocks. Aguila added 12 kills, 14 digs and three ace serves. Culver City totaled 28 team blocks in the contest.
In the Centaurs’ upset win over smaller school power Brentwood, Mathews tallied 17 kills and four blocks. Aguilera collected 39 assists and 19 digs. Morris Ellis had 19 digs and Aguila finished with 10.
In the first round, Aguilera had 10 kills as Culver City easily handled Santa Ana Valley, which placed second in the Orange League. Wesley Dixon and Mathews each had five kills. Finn had four solo blocks and Aguilera added 39 assists.
“The boys showed up in this match,” Culver City head coach Joe Monzo said. “Santa Ana Valley had a great team but we were able to take them out of their game.”
The Centaurs’ semifinal opponent, the Matadors, won their quarterfinal match in four games over Santa Monica Crossroads, 27-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-18.
If Culver City can upset San Gabriel, the Centaurs could have a championship game showdown with Ocean League foe Santa Monica on Saturday at a time to be determined at Cypress College.
The top-seeded Vikings went on the road and topped Bishop Montgomery, 25-20, 22-15, 25-17, 25-21, in the quarterfinals Saturday.
The Centaurs’ team is composed of Alizain Lalani, Marcus Myles, Manuel Gomez, Daniel Feifer, James Chandruang, Erik Hernandez, Aguilera, Dixon, Cody Gartner, Aarman Kani, Marcos Pulido, Cedric Margo, Ellis, Aguila, Finn and Mathews.