Raiders Fall, Royal Enjoys Block Party : Volleyball: Ho-hum. Highlanders take seventh consecutive Marmonte League championship in stride.

Balloons didn’t fall from the ceiling. Parades weren’t planned.

The Royal High boys volleyball team clinched the Marmonte League title with a 15-4, 15-4, 15-10 victory over Channel Islands on Friday night, but not a drop of nonalcoholic champagne was poured.

The reason: It was the seventh consecutive league title for the Highlanders, who merely lined up and shook hands with the defeated after the match.

“(Celebrations) never happen around here for a Marmonte League championship,” Royal Coach Bob Ferguson said. “CIF is what the whole season’s about.”

With the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs two weeks away, the Highlanders (12-2, 12-0) are out to prove they belong with the best.

Ranked eighth in Division I, Royal somewhat appreciates a league title.

“It’s always an accomplishment,” said outside hitter Danny Rizzo, who had 13 kills for the Highlanders.

But the team’s goal, as stated by Rizzo, is significantly higher: “To win CIF.”

Channel Islands (11-3, 9-3), which entered the match as the only Marmonte League team with a realistic shot at dethroning the Highlanders, ran into a Royal block party.

Seemingly every spike attempted by the Raiders was met at the net by at least two Highlanders.

Middle blocker Eric Carlsen led the way with eight blocks. Joe Olsen, who was rested during the third game, had five.

In the first meeting between the teams, Royal relied on one-on-one block strategy. Not this time.

“Percentage-wise, they hardly ever hit one-on-one tonight,” said Ferguson.

“They’ve got kids on that team that haven’t experienced rejection before.”

They experienced it Friday.

“I don’t know about the other players, but I was scared for a while,” said sophomore middle blocker Chris Valoaga, who led Channel Islands with seven kills and five blocks. “We had trouble pulling together.”

The only time the Raiders pulled together was the third game, when most Highlander starters were watching on from the bench.

But the Royal reserves made a 12-10 lead stand up and Justin Hutchins closed out the match with two service aces.

Despite a touch of flu, Melanio Lopez had six kills for Channel Islands, which had already locked up a spot in the playoffs.

“We were a little low on energy,” said Raider Coach Dave Chavez, who had other players suffering from flu symptoms as well. “But overall, I was pleased.”

Carlsen had seven kills for Royal despite limited action in the final game.