Chatsworth Concludes Yet Another Title Run With Passing Marks

The big hitters might get the headlines, but it has been the little passers who have helped rack up the wins this season for the Chatsworth High volleyball team.

“Those guys have been the difference for us,” Chatsworth Coach Steve Berk said.

The Chancellors’ little guys continued to pass muster--and anything else hit their way--in Chatsworth’s 15-10, 15-9, 13-15, 15-6 West Valley League victory Wednesday at Taft in the final game of the regular season.

Chatsworth (15-2, 12-0 in league play) had already clinched its eighth consecutive league title.

Larry Fernandez (6-foot, 165-pounds), Chris Horn (5-8, 125), Jonathan Braun (5-11, 145) and Jim Goldstein (5-8, 150), who along with setter Sheldon Sapoznik (5-11, 165) are the four smallest Chancellors, were near-flawless with their passing to help Chatsworth win its 53rd consecutive league match.

“No one gives passers enough credit, but I feel they deserve it,” Berk said. “They’re exceptional passers. They have good concentration, they focus on the serves and they pass well. Even if they make a mistake, they don’t get down, they concentrate on the next ball.”

Berk’s preoccupation with the passing game led him to devise a statistic to measure what he calls “perfect passes.” Fernandez led Chatsworth with 24, followed by Goldstein with 13, Braun with 8 and Horn with 7.

“They have great passers,” said Taft Coach Doug Magorien, whose team finished 8-4 in league play. “They brought in those little guys who passed nails.”

Senior John Ross, who has accepted a scholarship to attend San Diego State, led Chatsworth with 17 kills and seven blocks.