Metro Rivals Continue Battle in Section Final

How bitter is Bonita Vista’s boys’ volleyball team?

Bitter enough to take out their anger on Southwest, Metro Conference co-champion and rival, in the San Diego Section 3-A championship tonight at Rancho Bernardo. The 3-A game follows the 6 p.m. 2-A title contest between Rancho Bernardo and USDHS. Both games showcase teams appearing in the final for the first time.

Nowhere are sentiments running higher than at Bonita Vista, where the Barons (17-1) are upset about what they view as a complete lack of recognition.

“We feel like we haven’t gotten a lot of respect,” Bonita Vista Coach Jon Minich said. “But that’s OK, that just motivates us more. We’re going to go out and win it all.”

History would suggest it won’t be won easily. Bonita Vista has the 2-1 edge. Southwest is quick to point out that the Barons’ victories were without Raider ace Jerrold Burrow. Bonita Vista counters that argument with its own absentee.

“Jerrold is the best player in the league,” Minich said. “They’re playing it up, that he was out, but we had a player out too.”

Chaz Abbott, a middle blocker, actually did play, but a basketball injury reduced him to little more than a body on the court.

So Bonita Vista has not only had to battle the stigma that the South Bay is inferior to North County, but that the Barons, who have finished second to Southwest every year since volleyball became a sanctioned sport, aren’t even the top south county team.

“I hope this sends the message that we’re the toughest conference,” Minich said. “And our 17-1 record is the best of the season, for anyone.”

What also grates on Minich is that only one Baron (Jason Rasmussen) made the all-league team, on which three Southwest players (Dustin Cremascoli, Leo Vargas and Burrow) were placed.

“We got shafted, we’re bitter,” he said. “Southwest has done a lot of talking, we don’t think they should be talking so much. We’re waiting for (tonight). We’re ready. Come on, let’s get on with it.”

Both teams are coming off some spectacular five-game semifinal matches. Bonita Vista defeated Poway, four-time defending champion, and Southwest (18-2) topped Torrey Pines.

Minich said a key to Friday’s game is his team’s ability to match up with Southwest’s consistency.

“If we play the best we can, and if they play the best they can, I think we probably have more depth,” he said. “But we have to play consistent. We’re an up-and-down team. When we’re on, we can beat anyone, but when we’re in a funk, our junior varsity team could beat us.”