Granada Hills Reaches Final in Volleyball

Granada Hills High had just dropped what Danny Asaoka believed was the biggest game of the season, the third game of the Highlanders’ City Section 4-A Division volleyball semifinal match against University on Tuesday.

However, the 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter responded with seven of his 22 kills in the fourth game to lead host Granada Hills to a 15-13, 15-10, 13-15, 15-10 win.

Granada Hills (15-1), the Northwest Valley Conference co-champion that won 3-A titles in 1986 and ‘87, advances to its first 4-A title match. The Highlanders will play Palisades on Friday night at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

University (3-12), the Coastal Conference’s third-place finisher (the Warriors forfeited six matches because of an ineligible player), broke a 10-10 tie and took a 14-10 lead in the third game. Granada Hills weathered four game points, climbing to 14-13 before falling.

“It was the biggest game of the year, and when we lost it was really depressing,” Asaoka said. “We were a little too anxious and a little too intense. We wanted to win so badly that we started to play out of control.”

Granada Hills was in control when it counted in the decisive fourth game. The Highlanders built a 6-0 advantage, five points coming on four kills and a service ace by Asaoka, and won the match with three consecutive points after University had closed to 12-10.

“(Asaoka) was just outstanding with his play at the net,” eighth-year Granada Hills Coach Tom Harp said.

“I have never coached an athlete like him. We hung together when it started to get scary.”

Bobby Curtis and Ray Kim had 15 and 10 kills, respectively, and Josh Henderson added 57 assists for Granada Hills. Jeff Grover had three aces and caused 25 University hitting errors on 27 serves.