The Wildcats' Noah Douphner has the game-winning kill in the sweep of the Vikings.
West Ranch team celebrates as holds the CIF plaque for photos as they take the win over Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024.West Ranch took the win in 3 strait matches over Valencia for the CIF-SS Division 4 championship.
(Photo by Gene BlevinsContributing Photographer)
West Ranch team celebrates as they take the win Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
West Ranch team and fans celebrates as they take the win Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
West Ranch team celebrates as #21 Noah Douphner holds the CIF plaque high as they take the win over Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia team copes with the loss to West Ranch at the College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
West Ranch #4 Logan Sanchez(R) blocks the ballot the net as they take on Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
West Ranch #12 Lucas Reuter(R) blocks the spike as they take on Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
West Ranch #15 J. Aiden Prestridge (L) gets the ball over the net as they take on Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
West Ranch #15 J. Aiden Prestridge (L) gets the ball over the net as they take on Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024.West Ranch took the win in 3 strait matches over Valencia for the CIF-SS Division 4 championship.
(Photo by Gene BlevinsContributing Photographer)
West Ranch #21 Noah Douphner(C) puts the ball over the net as they take on Valencia at College of the Canyons in the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game Saturday Santa Clarita, CA, May 11, 2024. (Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer)
SANTA CLARITA — The Valencia boys volleyball team clinched the Foothill League championship with a win over West Ranch earlier this season.
The Wildcats repaid the favor on Saturday night at College of the Canyons, sweeping the Vikings, 25-23, 30-28, 26-24, in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship game.
Junior hitter Noah Douphner led the way for West Ranch (25-11) with a game-high 18 kills, including the match-winning kill.
“I think the whole team heard me yell ‘set Noah,’ on that last one,” said West Ranch coach Brandon Johnson. “That’s very rare for me because I know when we are successful, it’s not just Noah. But we needed it and I was very confident he could get the kill for us. Jackson (Mansansala) obviously knew he could too, that’s why he gave him a perfect set.”
West Ranch took each game by two points as it won the program’s first CIF-SS crown.
“That is probably the most tiring three-set match we’ve ever had,” said Dauphner.
Added Johnson: “That felt like a seven-set win, not a three-set win. It felt like had enough long rallies to last us a couple of matches.”
Behind the impressive hitting from Douphner, who quickly ripped off nine kills in the first set, West Ranch jumped out to a 14-9 lead and forced a Valencia timeout.
The Vikings (24-14) closed the gap thanks to nine assists from Leo Sangthongkum but ultimately fell 25-23. He finished with 33 assists in the game.
The impressive passing of freshman Stephen Choi (16 assists) and Manansala (12 assists), a junior, continually set hitters up with good balls to hit.
“We have two very good setters and we’ve been running a traditional six-two offense all season long because we trust both of them,” said Johnson.
Logan Sanchez had eight kills and stopped multiple Valencia runs with impressive defense at the net. Lucas Fico and Lucas Reuter both chipped in with four kills in the win.
Valencia was led offensively by a trio of seniors with Jet Ricks (14 kills) leading the way. Classmate Jared Pascua added 12 kills while Ricks’ twin brother Dane chipped in with eight.
