Panthers perfect in league volleyball season
By Dick Sparrer
Rob Carlson thought his Prospect boys volleyball team would win the championship this spring in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
But even the Prospect coach couldn't have predicted how the Panthers would win it--with a perfect league record.
Prospect wrapped up a 12-0 league season with a lopsided 15-2, 15-4, 15-12 win over Piedmont Hills last week. Junior Hieu Nguyen led the attack with seven kills for the Panthers.
Prospect will now enter the Central Coast Section playoffs with a solid 19-2 season record.
The Panthers open the playoffs on the road, visiting Leland (23-5) on May 10, 7 p.m. The winner advances to the quarterfinal round on May 12, 5 p.m., at Santa Clara High School against the Willow Glen (13-19)-Soquel (19-5) first-round winner.
Senior Chad Holan, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, had buried 11 kills for the Panthers in a 15-6, 15-9, 15-8 nonleague win over the King's Academy last Tuesday.
Prior to the two wins last week, Prospect had posted back-to-back wins over San Jose and Lincoln.
Ryan Sainsbury, a 6-foot senior outside hitter, had 10 kills in the 15-12, 15-9, 15-7 win over the Bulldogs and junior Joe Yoon starred for the Panthers in a 15-4, 15-1, 15-10 win over the Lions.
Sainsbury was the kill leader with 21 in a hard-fought 12-15, 15-10, 15-11, 14-16, 15-13 win over Branham, and he also led the Panthers to a 15-0, 15-4, 16-14 win over Gunderson.
The Panthers suffered a nonleague loss when they dropped a 15-13, 15-10, 15-13 nod to Westmont. Sainsbury was the kill leader for Prospect.
Westmont, 11-8 for the year, also advances to the CCS playoffs. The Warriors visit San Benito on May 10, 7 p.m., in Hollister. The winner moves on to play the Saratoga (5-4)-Bellarmine (20-1) first-round winner on May 12, 7 p.m., at Santa Clara.
Saratoga, thanks to a big 15-11, 15-10, 15-9 upset win over Los Gatos, earned a place in the section playoffs and visits Bellarmine in the first round.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
