Balanced Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball attack has Rebels rolling
LA CAÑADA — It isn’t just the highest postseason seed in program history that has Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball Coach Sean Beattie encouraged about his team’s opportunities in the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs, it is also the deepest lineup in his 19-year tenure with the Rebels that has created optimism.
Dante Fregoso was his usual imposing self Tuesday night with 18 kills, 12 digs and four aces against Whitney, but third-seeded Flintridge Prep showcased the kind of balanced attack in a 25-12, 25-15, 25-15 first-round victory that has the Rebels confident they can break through and reach their first division final.
“This is the most well-rounded team we’ve ever had,” Beattie said. “It’s the confidence our setter has in all the hitters, not just Dante, and it’s the confidence all the hitters have in each other. In the past, we’ve had three or four guys we can count on to put the ball away, but we’ve never had five, and that’s what we have with this group. It’s a nice luxury for a setter and a coach to have.”
In past years, Fregoso would consistently receive 80 to 90% of the sets from Aldridge Khin, resulting in a school-record 551 kills last season. This year, Fregoso is accounting for 60% of the Rebels’ sets, thanks to the improvement of Jonathan Samuels, Miles Johnson, AJ Nicassio and Majeed Ismail, all of whom have contributed more than 100 kills.
Samuels had seven kills, Nicassio contributed six kills and 11 digs, Johnson added five kills and four blocks, with Ismail recording four kills and three blocks for Flintridge Prep (22-4), which plays Thursday at Tustin (17-8) in a second-round match.
“It takes the pressure off Dante when we’re moving the ball around and getting everyone involved,” said Khin, who had 35 assists and a pair of aces. “In the past, he would get almost all of the sets, but I have complete confidence in all of our hitters that they can get the job done. A lot of the points ended quickly here, but when we got rallies going and our offense going, everything flowed really well.”
After an eight-point run midway through the opening game helped the Rebels gain momentum, Flintridge Prep endured a lapse to start the second, surrendering five consecutive points.
With Fregoso behind the service line, Flintridge Prep rallied to take a 7-6 lead before cruising to another convincing victory.
Following a slow start in the third, the Rebels used a five-point surge midway through the game on their way to closing out wild-card entry Whitney (13-13) in an hour.
“We know anything can happen in the playoffs and we’re not overlooking anyone. We went five against Whitney my freshman year and after an easy win in the first round last year, in the second round we went five and won by two points in the fifth, so we know it’s only going to get tougher from here,” Fregoso said. “I thought we played pretty well, but there are a lot of things we can do a lot better.”
Since missing the playoffs in 2012, Flintridge Prep has won first-round matches in all four years of Fregoso’s career. With a mature setter in Khin, poised play from senior libero Matt Wang – who added 10 digs Tuesday – and a versatile offense around him, Fregoso knows the Rebels have the experience to handle any situation or environment during this postseason run.
“A lot of the pressure has been lifted off me, we just need to make sure to stay focused and take care of business,” Fregoso said. “I’m confident in every other attacker we have and the way Aldridge is running the offense. We’ve been taking the approach of playing with urgency the whole season in order to prepare us for the playoffs, so we’re definitely ready.”