Granada Hills’ Comeback Nabs Chatsworth at Pass

With one of the best players in its history watching from the bleachers, the Granada Hills High boys’ volleyball team delivered a match for the ages.

The Highlanders rallied from a horrific first game and moved closer to their fourth Northwest Valley Conference title in six seasons with a 6-15, 15-10, 15-5, 15-5 victory Friday over host Chatsworth.

With two-time All-City Section performer Mike DiSimone taking in a Highlander match for the first time since his 1994 graduation, Granada Hills (10-0, 7-0 in conference play) completed a season sweep of the Chancellors (6-4, 5-2) and took a secure lead over Chatsworth with three matches left.

Chatsworth won the conference title last year and, in the first game, looked ready to pull into a first-place tie.

Kevin Dawes had eight first-game kills and one error and Stephen Wiessner added four kills before the Chancellors’ weakness was exposed.

They couldn’t pass.

“It was like a virus,” Dawes said. “It kept spreading from one person to the next to the next. People started to get angry.”

On the other side of the net, the Highlanders remained calm.

Their digging defense, always steady, began to wear down Chatsworth, as did improved blocking.

Paul DiSimone had two clutch blocks early in the third game, the second of which put Granada Hills ahead, 8-2.

DiSimone may have drawn inspiration from his brother, Mike, who helped lead the Highlanders to the 4-A Division title match in 1994 and later played for San Diego State. Mike saw Paul play for the first time.

“We just got pumped up,” Paul said. “A tie [for the title] wouldn’t have been the same. We wanted to take over and be the champs.”

On offense, Chris Tran erased a substandard start (six kills, three errors in the first two games) and finished with 16 kills for Granada Hills. Shawn Litchfield delivered a career-high 18 kills.

Chatsworth received more bad news off the court. Starting Monday, Dawes will be academically ineligible.

“I’m done,” said Dawes, an All-City 3-A selection last year at Sylmar. “That’s it. I tried to help these guys as much as I can.”

Chatsworth middle blocker Chris Wilson, who took a recruiting trip to UC Irvine on Thursday, had 10 kills and five blocks.