CV VB loses to Agoura in CIF

An unfortunate end for sure, the Crescenta Valley boys’ volleyball team, chock full of seniors, lost their final game of the season at home to Agoura, 27-29, 25-14, 25-18, 25-19, on Friday in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs

“I can’t explain it, other than we didn’t bring our ‘A’ game to the court,” said senior co-captain Ryan Peters. “It might have been the pressure, but I can’t explain it.”

The problem was that after both teams settled down after a rocky first game, the Falcons had no answer (in height) for Agoura’s 6-8 monster Matthew Hatch, who dominated the court.

“I’m just bigger than them,” Hatch joked. “We really wanted this. It’s our first playoff game and we were really focused.”

Falcons Coach John Nelson gave proper credit to the Chargers.

“We had great practices. We were well-prepared. I don’t know if [we lost because of] things we didn’t do so much as things they did do. We were a little bit off.

“They played well tonight, they have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Regardless, when the Chargers pushed early, the Falcons pushed back. Down 23-19 in the first game, Crescenta Valley made some fantastic plays to tie it 24-24. They took the game, 29-27, thanks largely to Peters’ efforts: four kills, an ace and the game-winning block.

Despite the great win, Agoura shot right back with a quick win in game 2, 25-14.

“[Agoura] settled down pretty well,” Coach Nelson said. “They played well; they adjusted well. We were a little bit off, we didn’t handle the ball as well as we had, and that’s why we were in the net as much as we were.”

CV looked like they were getting their hits on target through the middle of the fourth game, 12-10. But once again, Hatch found his way with a block, a kill and an ace to get the Chargers a three-point lead, 18-16, and the Chargers never gave it back. Hatch had 15 kills, six aces and eight blocks.

Peters, who played in his final high school game, had 11 kills.