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Ontario Christian boys volleyball team sweeps…

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Wednesday, July 24th 2024

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Ontario Christian boys volleyball team sweeps Avalon to claim CIF-SS Division 7 title

Micah Mackenzie records a match-high 14 kills to help the Knights win the first section title in program history

Ontario Christian’s Simon Koontz #10 celebrate with the Championship trophy and the team after defeating Avalon 3-0 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 7 boys volleyball championship match in Ontario on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Ontario Christian’s Simon Koontz #10 celebrate with the Championship trophy and the team after defeating Avalon 3-0 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 7 boys volleyball championship match in Ontario on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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ONTARIO — “The Firsts.”

Ontario Christian’s boys volleyball team was the first team to play in and record a win in the Knight Center when it opened in 2021.

Saturday, the Knights added another first by winning the CIF Southern Section’s Division 7 championship at their school’s newest venue by sweeping Avalon, 25-12, 25-16, 25-17.

It is the program’s first section title and comes after the Knights had seven wins over the previous two years.

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Ontario Christian players celebrate their 3-0 victory over Avalon to the CIF Southern Section Division 7 boys volleyball championship match in Ontario on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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“It’s true what they say about that last point sometimes being the hardest to get,” Ontario Christian coach David Slager said. “I’m just so proud of how our guys handled being on this stage for the first time. They passed the ball so well and we were able to get offense from so many different places as a result. It was so much fun to watch them put it together.”

Avalon had a brief lead in the opening set, but the Knights used a 13-4 run to take a 14-6 lead. Ryan Price and Micah Mackenzie each had a pair of early kills. Price and Scott Hoy also added service aces in that push. Angelo Martinez had the set-ending kill for Ontario Christian.

Ontario Christian led from start to finish in the second set and prevailed 25-16, although Avalon battled and was able to create several long rallies. Mackenzie had six kills while Simon Koontz added three kills along with 1 1/2 blocks as the Knights took a two-set lead.

Avalon battled once again and kept itself within five points of Ontario Christian for much of the final set. However, the Knights took their largest lead at the time of 19-11 following a pair of kills by Josh Converse.

Ontario Christian reached set point at 24-11 after a pair of kills from Price and one from Ryan Merandi. Avalon was able to stave off three match points before Koontz ended it with a solo block.

“We’ve never seen a crowd like this before, so kudos to our student section and fans for coming out today,” Mackenzie said. “It’s an amazing feeling to get this win after all the hard work we’ve put in this year. Now it’s time to rest up and get ready for the CIF State tournament.”

Avalon’s Nathan Jones spoiled one of those set points with a solo block.

“We just weren’t able to keep up defensively with a really solid Ontario Christian offense today, but we have nothing to hang our heads about with 51 wins in two years,” Lancers coach Carlos Martinez said. “When my juniors were freshmen, they went to the Los Alamitos frosh tournament and took second place. I knew then that we had something and they’ve just kept pushing for more.”

Mackenzie led Ontario Christian with 14 kills and Merandi had 39 assists.

Jacob Mello had eight kills to lead Avalon.

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