Whether it was on or off Catalina island, the boys’ volleyball team from Avalon looked comfortable in the CIF playoffs while reaching the Division 7 championship game.
“The rise of the Avalon boys’ volleyball playoffs embodies what is best loved in high school athletics: heart, dedication and to never give up,” Avalon coach Carlos Martinez said. “Character goes a long way, and this group of boys have always had a lot of that.”
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The semifinal game at home was a special moment for the entire Avalon community as they packed the gym and watched their Lancers sweep Downey Calvary Chapel. The dedicated contingent also made the trip to the mainline for the championship game.
In the semifinal victory, Jacob Mello continued to do a little bit of everything and led the Lancers with 16 kills and 12 digs. Erick Madriz had 11 kills and Nathan Jones had four blocks. David Mulgado finished with eight kills and 10 digs while Chris Gonzalez chipped in six kills and eight digs. Setter Aaron Meza had 38 assists to go with four aces and two blocks. Libero Uriel Gonzales had 32 digs during an excellent passing game.
“You can see the community support tonight… To have the whole community behind us was something truly special,” Martinez said after the semifinal. “ It’s a moment none of them will forget. They’re always here cheering us on. Knowing we have that level of incredible community support is a big part of what’s made this program successful. They’re just as much a part of this as the players and everyone involved. They truly love their Lancers and these boys.”
