Pacifica Volleyball's Dream Season

The boys' volleyball team had a magical season, culminating in a CIF championship run.  Along the way, they posted a 32-2 record. The boys placed first in a field of 28 schools at the Venice tournament.  They backed it up with a first place finish at the Culver City tournament.  The team was ranked in the top 100 nationally, 65th in the state of California, 35th in the CIF Southern Section and 1st in CIF Division 5.  The team won the Liberty League title and entered the CIF Championships as a #4 seed.  They made it all the way to the championship game before falling to Orange Counties El Modena in five games: 25-20, 17-25, 25 - 17, 25-27 and 13-15.

Coach Charlie Schmittdiel's team was led by six seniors: Setter Kenny Minchin, Setter Stuart Cox, Middle Hitter Gabe Conway-Burt, Outside Hitter Timmy Ellis, Middle Hitter Dylan Swimmer and Outside Hitter Alex Knight.  Underclassmen—including Junior Libero Ben Reasner, Opposite Eli Lingel, Opposite Nicholas Suarez, Outside Hitter Ricky Selby, Serving Specialist Scott Yontez, Libero Christopher Martin and Outside Hitter Stuart Reimers—were the supporting cast. 

Senior Alex Knight will continue playing volleyball next year at UCLA, and will be training with the USA's Youth National Team this summer for a spot in the World Championships in Tunisia this August.  Knight was selected as Volleyball Magazines National Player of the Year and was on the All CIF-First Team.  Teammate Kenny Minchin was also selected to the All CIF-First Team an honor he also received in boys' basketball.

With a strong crop of underclassmen and several experienced incoming 9th graders, the team looks to remain strong for the 2020 season.