Chatsworth Outlasts Palisades for 4-A Title

In a match that featured the Valley boys against the beach boys, Chatsworth High ended four years of frustration, defeating Palisades in five games to win the boys’ City Section 4-A volleyball championship at UCLA’s John Wooden Center on Friday.

The scores were 15-7, 15-9, 10-15, 9-15, 15-11.

Chatsworth (17-0), making its sixth consecutive visit to the 4-A final, avenged last year’s loss to Palisades in the championship match.

The Chancellors, who defeated Palisades for the ’81 title but had lost four 4-A finals in a row, dominated all facets of the match in the early going.

In winning its third City title, Chatsworth bolted to a 10-1 lead in the first game, but Palisades (13-4) fought off five game points before Jeremy Graham stuffed Paul Asher’s spike to end it at 15-7.

Game two was more of the same as the Chancellors put the pressure on the Dolphins, winners of seven City titles. Greg Weaver had eight kills in the game and dinked in the winner on the fifth game point.

The Dolphins finally broke through in game three, breaking a 10-10 tie by scoring the game’s final five points.

Palisades, which rediscovered its passing game in game three, controlled game four as well, winning six of the last seven points, including the game-winner when Weaver netted a spike.

The fifth game appeared to be little more than a formality as Palisades continued its roll, jumping to an 8-2 lead. But somehow, from somewhere, Chatsworth gathered itself and came back to take a 14-10 lead.

Palisades weathered three match points before senior hitter Chris Gleason hammered a spike into the right corner to clinch the title, 15-11.

“It was a great set (by Jaimie Chen),” Gleason said. “It feels great to finally win.”

Said Chatsworth Coach Steve Berk: “What a comeback. All of a sudden the guys just came alive. They got new spirit. I don’t know where they got it from.

“They’re seniors. They didn’t want to go out losers.”

Weaver led the Chancellors with 34 kills. Mike Millett added 20 kills and seven blocks. Graham had 15 kills and five blocks and Gleason added 10 kills. The match was marred by a brawl between several students after the match-winning point.

There were also several other incidents involving the student body.

There was a 10-minute delay before the start of game two when Palisades Coach Howard Enstedt protested to officials about Chatsworth’s fans moving from one end of the court to the other.

“I don’t want them in front of my team when it’s serving, waving their hands and chanting,” Enstedt said.

The officials conferred, then ordered the fans to the stands on the Chatsworth side, placating Enstedt.

The announcer warned fans from both schools before the start of game three that the match would be delayed if fans continued to exhibit poor sportsmanship.