PREP VOLLEYBALL : Canyon Comes Back to Beat El Modena, Closes In on Title

With the end of a 15-year drought in sight, Canyon was understandably antsy before its four-game victory over host El Modena in a Century League boys’ volleyball match Thursday.

The Comanches, ranked ninth in Orange County, lost the first game before rebounding for a convincing 7-15, 15-10, 15-6, 15-8 victory. Brent Nogle had 18 kills and Joey Ramirez added 15 for Canyon, which moved within one victory of clinching the league title.

If Canyon (12-0, 6-0 in league) defeats Foothill Tuesday, the Comanches clinch the league championship outright. El Modena fell to 7-5, 3-3.

“The last time this school won a title was 1978 or ‘79,” Canyon Coach Chuck Kaulupali said. “The seniors have worked so hard to get here and they can feel it coming.

“They tend to get too excited at the beginning of a match and they try too hard. But you can tell by the scores that after they settled down and played smooth, it was no problem.”

That’s a big turnaround from four years ago. When Nogle, Ramirez, and setter Matt Cohen entered Canyon as freshmen, the Comanche program had been discontinued because of lack of funding.

“These kids started it themselves because of their love for the game,” Kaulupali said. “We get no funding from the district, so the kids have to do all the fund-raising themselves; for the officials fees, transportation, everything.”

The Comanches have beaten everyone they’ve played this season with a balanced attack.

Cohen, who had 42 assists, can set Nogle and Ramirez on the outside and Troy Langley gives Canyon another potent weapon in the middle. Langley had 13 kills and four blocks Thursday.

“They’re an overpowering team,” El Modena Coach John Cahill said.

Mike Jemmett tried to keep El Modena close with his 17 kills, but Canyon was too much to handle.

A victory Thursday would have kept the Vanguards in the league title hunt, but now Cahill is worried about getting his team into the playoffs.

Since Santa Ana Valley dropped out of the league, the league might receive only two playoff berths, Cahill said. El Modena might have to defeat Foothill in the final league match next week to secure a playoff berth.