VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Inspired Roosevelt Makes Quick Work of University

The Roosevelt High School boys’ volleyball team had extra incentive to beat University High in their volleyball match Thursday.

Last year, the girls’ season ended when University upset them in the City Section 4-A Division semifinals. But the boys avenged that loss Thursday with a win in three games over University in the City 4-A quarterfinals.

“I didn’t want to play up (the girls’ loss), but I’m sure the boys wanted to beat University more because of it,” said Ken Maki, who coaches both Roosevelt teams.

Fourth-seeded Roosevelt (13-2) will visit top-seeded Granada Hills (15-0) Tuesday. University, the No. 5 seed, ended its season at 9-7.

Roosevelt, which won the match 15-10, 15-3, 16-14, has two explosive hitters in Mike Moran and Geovanni Barrajas, and an outstanding setter in Oscar Oyama. Oyama had 22 assists in Thursday’s match and did an excellent job of setting up Moran and Barrajas for easy kills.

“My job is to make good sets and to get the ball to whomever is hot,” said Oyama, whose seven assists in the first game set up a 12-3 run for Roosevelt.

Richard Castellano had four kills in that game. He finished with 10 kills, six blocks and three digs in the match.

Roosevelt ended the second game with a 10-0 run to cruise to an easy 15-3 win. James Christopherson, who finished the match with 11 kills and three assists, scored two of University’s three points in the game.

Roosevelt outscored University, 7-4, at the start of the third game, but Jesse Karonis had four kills in the game--11 in the match--to bring University to within one point of winning, 14-13.

But Barrajas, who had five kills, five blocks, five digs and two serving aces in the match, blocked two shots at the net to bring Roosevelt back. Oyama had nine assists.