It has been an up and down season for the Bonita Vista Barons boys volleyball team. It started off well enough. At one point the Barons were 12-2 and looking like league contenders, but with consecutive losses to Eastlake (twice), Otay Ranch and Olympian they have fallen out of the Metro-Mesa League race and can only hope for a repeat of last year’s electrifying playoff run.
In 2014, the Barons came alive in the San Diego Section Division III playoffs and made it all the way to the finals, eventually claiming the runner-up award. Coach Anthony Harrington thinks a similar run can happen this season as his team moves up to the Division II level.
“We have been hurt by the loss of two key players to eligibility, but I think we have a good shot of getting to the finals,” the BVHS coach said. “Division II is real top heavy. If we are ranked in the top two, we’ll get a home game and that will help our chances. That is what we are striving for.”
The Barons have been led all season by senior captains Cameron Short and Willis Fa’alogo.
Short plays as the opposite hitter and received mention in post-season awards last year.
“Cameron is the only member of our team who plays club ball in the off-season and he is our go-to guy,” Harrington said. “His experience playing club ball has been really important in improving our team.”
Fa’alogo is the team’s top outside hitter and a good natural athlete, according to Harrington.
“He is raw and never had any volleyball training, but he has picked up the game quickly,” Harrington noted.
The Barons start junior Dylan Decker in the middle of their formidable front line.
“Dylan (and Cameron Short) stepped up last year in the playoffs when we were making our run,” Harrington said.
Supporting them is setter Joseph Guillen-Parast. “Joseph started on the junior varsity team a year ago and is starting for us now,” Harrington said. “He is a good talent and with more work will improve.”
Shai Romano and David Melendrez, who starred on this year’s CIF runner-up soccer team, join Austin Hermida as the team’s primary defensive players.
Harrington has a slew of capable support players on his roster and most of them have seen significant time on the court. They include outside hitters Moli Fa’alogo, Kyle Alegado, Christian Ibarra and Jeremy Borja, and middle blockers Ahmed Hassan and David Estrada.
Having played his prep volleyball at Hilltop High School will make it easier for Harrington to reach his goal of creating an off-season club team comprised primarily of Bonita Vista and Hilltop players. Harrington knows that to compete on an equal basis with the county’s elite teams he must follow their example.
Metro teams making bid for top playoff seeding
Metro Conference boys volleyball teams appear to be earning their share of respect throughout the San Diego Section this spring.
A look at the section power rankings, which will be used in seeding for the upcoming divisional playoffs, show several area squads residing near the top of their respective divisions.
Eastlake (13-6) entered the week ranked seventh in the section while Metro-Mesa League rival Otay Ranch (27-8) was ranked ninth. The top eight teams qualify for the elite Open Division playoffs. The teams close out regular season play May 8 at ORHS, with the outcome weighing huge on CIF seeding.
Bonita Vista (13-6) entered the week ranked No. 1 among Division II teams. Hilltop (18-8), Olympian (10-8) and Montgomery (12-10) were ranked fourth, seventh and ninth, respectively, in the same field.
Metro-Pacific League leader Chula Vista (16-3) is enjoying one of its finest seasons on the court. The Spartans entered the week ranked No. 2 among the section’s Division III teams trailing Helix (19-11). Mater Dei Catholic (0-9) and Sweetwater (10-15) were ranked seventh and 10th, respectively, in the division.
Castle Park (10-4) entered the week ranked No. 1 among Division IV teams while the Chula Vista Learning Community Center (2-1) was ranked seventh.
The section playoffs start May 12 and wrap up with championship finals May 22 at Canyon Crest Academy (Division III and Division IV) and May 23 at Cathedral Catholic High School (Open Divisio
