Frustration Finally Ends for Davis, Taft Volleyball

Matt Davis read the local newspapers last week and saw that several members of the Chatsworth High boys’ volleyball team were boasting about the likelihood of their repeating as City Section 4-A Division champions.

Davis, a 6-foot-4 senior middle blocker for Taft, Chatsworth’s opponent in the final, said the talk just made him and his teammates more determined.

Chatsworth (14-3) entered the playoffs as the top-seeded team. The Chancellors were playing in their seventh consecutive title match and had not lost to Taft (16-1) in more than five years.

In fact, Taft’s only regular-season loss, a five-game decision in March, had come against Chatsworth.

“Everyone kept saying it would take a major upset for us to beat them,” Davis said. “All of this talk added to our desire.”

But Taft had not reached the title match by accident. The Toreadors, under fifth-year Coach Doug Magorien, stressed teamwork over reliance on any one player. Balance, maintained Magorien, had been the key.

But even Magorien conceded that Davis, nicknamed “The Wall” by his teammates, was a major factor Taft’s five-game win (15-12, 9-15, 13-15, 16-14, 15-6) over Chatsworth on Friday in the final.

Playing with a sore left ankle and torn muscles in his right rib cage, Davis was a stalwart at the net, recording 20 kills, three blocks and three digs. Earlier in the week, he had 16 kills, nine blocks and four digs in a semifinal win over University.

“I was really hurt and a little worn down Friday night,” said Davis, a two-year starter. “The University match kind of did me in. But after hearing all the things that Chatsworth was saying about us, I got up enough energy for one more match.

“The victory was certainly the sweetest kind. Our coach finally got a win against Chatsworth, and we won a City title.”

Davis’ final high school match might have been one of his more difficult ones. Already weary and hampered by injuries, Davis had to go against Chatsworth’s powerful front line of Craig Hewitt (6-6) and Gene Urcan (6-5), two of the most dominating middle blockers in the City, for 2 1/2 hours.

And when Taft found itself trailing Chatsworth, 2-1, in games and losing, 14-12, in the fourth game, it was Davis who provided an emotional lift. He led a rally that resulted in a 16-14 win, and the momentum carried through the fifth game, which Taft won easily, 15-6.

Davis finished the season with 168 kills, converting 57% of his opportunities. He hopes to continue his volleyball career in college but as yet has had no serious offers.

“I went out the best way one can,” he said. “I’m feeling great.”