Ellis Provides Monroe With Recipe for Success

Reggie Ellis, a budding chef, blends timing, quickness and a soaring vertical leap into the perfect recipe for a kill as an outside hitter on the Monroe High boys’ volleyball team.

Ellis, a senior, is taking culinary classes at Monroe and, to hear his teammates tell it, he’s learning well.

Ellis lately has provided the hot hand on the court for the Vikings (13-3), who are top seeded and play No. 2-seeded Eagle Rock (14-2) for the City Section 3-A Division championship tonight at Cal State Northridge.

He also picked up rave reviews for a couple cakes he baked last week.

One cake went to his mom for Mother’s Day and the other went with Ellis to practice. It didn’t last long, thanks to outside hitter Hugo Cabadas and 6-foot-5 middle blocker Jose Sanchez.

“Give him some credit,” Sanchez said. “It was a good cake.”

Ellis, who will trade in his spatula for software when he goes to college--he wants to study computer animation and special effects--also has been getting credit for his spiking ability.

He delivered a team-high 18 kills in a semifinal victory over Sylmar and had 13 in a quarterfinal match against Van Nuys.

Not bad for a guy who didn’t even play last year, opting instead to take computer courses after school at a technical college.

“We weren’t counting on him at all this season,” Coach Bob Berrenson said. “I had him playing on JV for winter league only because he didn’t play at all last year.”

But Ellis has been a pleasant surprise for the Vikings. He has been working out with Pierce College middle blocker Anthony Thomas, a former Monroe standout, and has elevated his game.

Ellis usually starts the match on the bench, but is inserted for instant offense.

Despite his recent success, Ellis keeps a level head.

“I’m not a superstar, I’m just a player,” he said. “If we didn’t have our passers and setters, I would never get a kill.”

Ellis is surrounded by a capable supporting cast in Sanchez, who patrols the middle, and Cabadas, who, like Ellis, provides a fiery attack from the outside.

The Vikings, who won the Valley Pac-8 Conference, only lack experience. This is their first time in the 3-A championship match since they defeated Verdugo Hills in 1990.

Eagle Rock won the 3-A title last season, although the Eagles’ top player from that team, Andy Rivera, graduated and their 6-3 middle blocker, Eduardo Saucedo, likely will miss the match tonight because of a sprained left ankle

suffered in a semifinal victory against Poly.

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In the 4-A match, top-seeded Palisades (16-0) has the edge in experience over No. 2-seeded Taft (15-0), having played in the championship match last season.

The Dolphins lost to Granada Hills, but gained something.

“They’ve now been around the hype,” Coach Dave Suarez said of his players. “They’re ready for it.”

Three of the Palisades players--setter Rob Neilson, outside hitter Peter Schecter and middle blocker Donal McGraw--played club volleyball with Taft opposite hitter Joe Nargi.

“They might have the edge of familiarity, because [Nargi] will have knowledge of three of my players,” Suarez said. “That’s half my starters.”

Taft is making its first appearance in the championship match since 1990, when the Toreadors defeated Chatsworth in five games.