SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III VOLLEYBALL : Eagles End the Season Perfectly

Calvary Chapel made it look easy all season long, and the Eagles didn’t stop when they played Santa Ynez for the Southern Section Division III boys’ volleyball championship Saturday at Cerritos College.

Behind senior Philip Schildts, who had 20 kills and three blocks, top-seeded Calvary Chapel capped its undefeated season with a convincing 15-8, 15-3, 15-8 victory. It is the first section boys’ volleyball title for Calvary Chapel.

“It feels good after coming away empty-handed the last two times we were here,” Calvary Chapel Coach Chuck Wright said.

In 1991 and ‘92, the Eagles lost in the Division 2-A final to Olympic League-rival Whittier Christian. The Heralds, who had won three consecutive section championships heading into this season, lost to second-seeded Santa Ynez (21-3) in the semifinals Wednesday.

But on this day, it probably didn’t matter who was on the other side of the net for Calvary Chapel (18-0).

The Eagles, who didn’t lose a game during the playoffs, took control early and had a 6-1 lead. After Santa Ynez sophomore Andy Witt spiked for a point to close the Pirates to 7-4, Calvary Chapel responded by scoring the next six points.

Schildts had nine kills in the first game, and his brother Robert, a 6-foot-7 junior, kept Santa Ynez honest in the middle with three of his five kills in Game 1.

The Eagles’ offense was clicking. In addition to the Schildts brothers, setter Matt Wright, who had 31 assists, also went to Aaron Fountain (10 kills) on the outside.

Calvary Chapel complemented its attack with solid defense. Junior middle blocker John Glover, who had three blocks, helped the Eagles out-block Santa Ynez, 8-2.

Although Witt finished with 15 kills, Calvary Chapel forced him into 12 hitting errors and blocked him five times. Philip Schildts and Steve Lefevre blocked Witt at game point to give the Eagles a 15-8 victory in the first game.

“Everyone turned it up today,” Robert Schildts said. “We were all fired up, and we didn’t give them a chance.”

The Eagles scored the first six points in Game 2 and closed it out by winning seven consecutive points for a 15-3 victory.

“Of Calvary Chapel’s 15 points in Game 2, 10 came on our errors,” Santa Ynez Coach Chip Fenenga said. “Their serving kept us off the whole game.”

In Game 3, an ace by Fountain gave Calvary Chapel a 5-4 lead, and four Santa Ynez errors pushed it to 9-5.

Philip Schildts blocked Witt to make it 10-5. Then Wright, a 5-7 junior, spiked off a block attempt by Witt, who is 6-4, for an 11-5 lead, and the rout was on.

“All year we’ve been trying to set Matt on a play like that,” Philip Schildts said, “and he steps up to do it in the biggest match of the year.”

That’s the kind of day it was for Calvary Chapel.

“In the playoffs, we’ve had a different intensity,” Robert Schildts said. “This is great. It’s what you work for the whole season.”