After Strong Opening, Taft Fizzles Out

The end of the line for Taft High, which won the Northwest Valley Conference title and returned to prominence for the first time since 1990, came slower than expected.

But it still came.

Palisades defeated Taft, 10-15, 15-12, 15-11, 15-7, in the City Section 4-A Division boys’ volleyball championship Friday at Cal State Northridge.

Second-seeded Taft (15-1) was led by opposite hitter Joe Nargi, who delivered 24 kills, but he had little help from his supporting cast.

Tomer Firouzman, who had 10 kills, was the only other Taft player to register double figures in kills.

The Toreadors were also hurt by 12 passing errors.

“That’s the difference in the match,” Taft Coach Doug Magorien said. “If we set a little better and have fewer calls against us, it’s a tighter match. But Palisades is a great team and they’re going to take advantage.”

The key to the match might have been the second game.

Top-seeded Palisades (17-0), already down one game, was tied with Taft at 12-12.

But Peter Schecter, who finished with 18 kills, had three kills and the Dolphins won the game and, ultimately, the match.

“I just wanted to finish it,” Schecter said.

Palisades, which has been the launching pad for several successful players, including Kent Steffes, won a title for the first time since 1992.

The Dolphins lost to Granada Hills last season in the 4-A championship and learned from it.

“That was a killer,” Schecter said. “We knew we didn’t like losing in the finals.”

Nargi, who plays club volleyball during the off-season with three Palisades players, was anything but friendly in the first game, pounding six kills.

But after the Toreadors lost the second game, they seemed to lose their confidence.

Taft middle blocker Mike Gledhill, a sophomore, played like a veteran with 10 blocks.

“He played like a senior,” Magorien said.

Taft was trying to win its first title since 1990.

Michael Kirschenbaum and Emerson Vidor each had 12 kills for Palisades. Donal McGraw had nine kills and nine blocks.

“I think we had more people to go to,” said Palisades Coach Dave Suarez, who also coached the Dolphins’ girls’ team to the 4-A championship last fall.