HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Crespi Shooting for Banner Season in Volleyball

Ten league championship banners hang on the west wall in the Crespi High gymnasium. Football, basketball, baseball and track and field are among the sports represented.

Kevin Slattum would like to see a new banner appear--that of volleyball.

The Crespi volleyball coach watched his Celts (6-1, 4-1 in Mission League play) remain in the hunt for a title by dusting off St. Paul, 15-7, 15-11, 15-3, in a league match Tuesday at Crespi.

“We’ve been in the Del Rey League the last three years and have always finished second to Loyola,” Slattum said.

Now with the Del Rey League disbanded and Loyola in the Angelus League, Crespi is contending with Bishop Montgomery and archrival Notre Dame for a league title.

Bishop Montgomery (5-0 in league play) handed Crespi its only loss in the league opener March 7. The Celts are tied with Notre Dame (7-2, 4-1).

Crespi outside hitter Tom Black, who missed a match and almost a week of practice because of an ankle sprain, returned to record 13 kills.

Frank Romano led the Celts with 14 kills.

St. Paul led just three times--at the beginning of each game, 1-0, 3-0 and 1-0--but Crespi took advantage of several Swordsmen miscues.

St. Paul players continually hit the ball into the net, stepped over the half-court line and missed kill attempts.

The Celts, trailing 1-0 in the third game, scored 14 consecutive points. Marcus Sumner (10 kills in the match) ended the game with a vicious spike.