A tough test awaits Sage

For every round deeper into the playoffs the Sage Hill School boys’ volleyball team goes, a new challenge awaits.

Last Friday night, after beating Chadwick in five games in the regular season, the Lightning proved they could do it again in a CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinal, again coming back from a 2-1 games deficit.

Tonight, Sage Hill has a tougher challenge. The Lightning (16-7) travel to Calabasas to play at top-seeded Viewpoint (28-6) at 7 p.m. in a Division V semifinal. Win, and Sage Hill will make it to the CIF finals in boys’ volleyball for the first time in school history.

Lightning Coach Dan Thomassen said he hasn’t studied any tapes of the Patriots, the two-time defending CIF champion. For Thomassen, it’s about his team, which is highlighted by standouts like sophomore outside hitter Bayle Smith and junior middle blocker Carl Hillgren.

“I think our guys are extremely positive and motivated,” Thomassen said. “They know they can string together a good match. Even though we’re young, we’ve got some battlers. If they’re going to beat us, they’ll have to beat us at our best.”

Viewpoint and Sage Hill haven’t played each other this season. The two schools do have some common opponents, like Chadwick, which Viewpoint beat in three games on March 9.

And there is a history between Viewpoint and Sage Hill. In 2004, the Lightning won at Viewpoint in five games in the Division V quarterfinals. It remains the last playoff loss for Viewpoint, and the only time in the last six years that the Patriots haven’t advanced to at least the semifinals.

“That seems like a long time ago,” said Thomassen, who was an assistant coach on that Lightning team. “That was my first year here, and that was the last time we had a really experienced team, with three or four experienced seniors. The big difference with this team is I think we’re more balanced. We have a good group of 10 guys, and any of them are capable of making a big contribution.

Even though Bayle’s the standout, it’s not all on his shoulders.”

Viewpoint is led by senior Matt Talamantes, the son of Patriots coach Mike Talamantes. Last year, Matt Talamantes was the CIF Southern Section Division V Player of the Year. Outside hitter Hunter Carlin, now a junior, was second-team All-CIF last season.

“They obviously have more playoff experience,” Thomassen said of the Patriots. “But we don’t know too much [about them]. Mostly, it’s just making sure we’re great at the things we need to be great at, which are our serving, our passing, our blocking and our digging.”

Smith said he’s excited for the chance to play in what promises to be a hostile Viewpoint gym.

Flintridge Prep plays host to Salesian tonight in the other Division V semifinal. The championship match is scheduled for Saturday at noon at Cerritos College.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or [email protected].