Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball claims elusive Providence Tournament title

BURBANK — After consecutive years of finishing runner-up, the Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball team would not settle for silver this time around.

The Rebels completed an undefeated run through the 22nd annual Providence High School Boys’ Volleyball Tournament and captured an elusive championship after defeating St. Genevieve, 25-16, 25-19 in the finals.

“This is our third year in a row in the finals and we lost the last two, so some of us came out with a little edge today,” Rebels Coach Sean Beattie said. “We wanted to get this one. Our main concern was having to play St. Genevieve again. When you beat a team, you never know how they’re going to come out the next time.”

Despite just starting their season this week, the CIF Southern Section Division IV No. 8-ranked Rebels (5-0) had already faced finals opponent St. Genevieve in the opening match of the season Wednesday in a contest the Rebels took, 25-18, 25-19, 26-24.

Flintridge Prep raced out to a 10-3 advantage in the second game, fueled by a block and kill from sophomore middle blocker Jake Althouse.

The Rebels’ seven-point lead was never trimmed to lower than four points, despite the best efforts of the Valiants (3-2), who received four kills and an ace from Matthew Reyes in the second game.

Flintridge Prep eventually took a 20-13 lead on the final of nine kills from junior outside hitter Dante Fregoso, who added eight digs and was named the tournament most valuable player.

St. Genevieve made its last stand with three straight kills to pull within, 20-16.

Yet, Flintridge Prep responded with two straight points en route to eventually clinching the win, 25-19, on a kill from senior outside hitter Will Penn (nine digs).

“This win was a long time coming,” Fregoso said. “I think this year, with the team we have, we have a lot of chemistry. I think we can keep building off this momentum and see where we can go.”

In the first game against St. Genevieve, the Rebels received more of an initial challenge from the Valiants, who scored the first point and were within 15-12 a little past the midway point.

Flintridge Prep scored four of the next six points in going up, 21-14, and not looking back.

“I’m really proud of the way my team played,” St. Genevieve Coach Miguel Segura said. “We had a very good tournament and just ran into an excellent team.”

Miles Johnson added four kills and five blocks for the Rebels, while senior libero Zack Picker finished with 15 digs in being named to the all-tournament team.

“We have some new members on the back row, but we’ve had great chemistry,” Picker said. “The guys on the front row have also been great and they don’t allow a lot to get by.”

Flintridge Prep earned advancement to the championship by defeating Oakwood, 25-18, 26-24, in the semifinals.

The Rebels will face the Gorillas (3-1) on Monday in nonleague play and held off the North Hollywood school with consecutive kills from Fregoso in the second game.

Fregoso added nine kills against Oakwood, while Penn had seven kills, Althouse tallied three blocks and Picker contributed 11 digs and four assists.

Besides Flintridge Prep’s entrants, the Providence All-Tournament team consisted of Providence’s Taylor Saldana and Justin Idian, St. Genevieve’s Rikki Young and Oakwood’s Sam Eisner.