ESCONDIDOESCONDIDO — When Classical Academy can stay in system, its boys volleyball team may be as powerful as any team in the San Diego Section.
The Caimans were able to do exactly that against a young and scrappy Bishop’s team Wednesday, feeding their middles consistently in cruising to a 25-9, 25-18, 25-17 win at East Valley Community Center.
Classical Academy, which also has two wins each over Sage Creek and Otay Ranch in the toughest schedule in Division II, is now fully in control of the Coastal League at 4-0.
“Our middles are super dynamic,” Caimans coach Ariel Milo said of 6-foot-4 Lucas Chapman and 6-5 Dane Roblee. “They work really hard in transition. They know their blocking assignments. We have some of the smartest middles in San Diego County, and they know how to take advantage of mismatches.”
Chapman led the way for Classical Academy (23-6, 4-0), logging a match-high 14 kills and three blocks. Roblee added eight kills and a block as the Caimans took advantage of their consistent serve receive ing as well as a defense that seemed to win nearly every long rally.
Another middle, 6-3 junior KC Dove, also made his presence known in the third set with a couple blocks.
During Wednesday’s first set, the hosts had nearly as many kills out of the middle (seven) as Bishop’s had points (nine).
“We were able to establish it early,” said Chapman of the middle-heavy attack that resulted in first-set leads of 8-0, 15-3 and 19-6. “Once they started blocking us we got a lot more tips to avoid the block. We had a lot better ing game so we were able to get tighter on the net and run a lot more quicks.”
Bishop’s kept it close in the second set, even taking a 14-12 lead. But the Caimans put together three 3-0 runs to keep it close before Chapman put it away in the middle on set point for one of his seven kills in the set.
The Knights (23-6, 2-2) start four freshmen. That would be a recipe for disaster for most teams, particularly against a team of Classical Academy’s size and experience. The Caimans list only one player under 6-foot and that’s 5-11 backup libero Joseph McTigue.
But three of those freshmen — outside hitter Will Dunning and twins Logan and Hudson Yockey — are ranked among the top players in the nation in their class.
Coach Kevin Pratte knows they’ll take their lumps. Bishop’s made 12 errors in the first set alone, including two foot faults on serves. But he also knows his team is built for the future — and that future may come sooner rather than later.
“I’m extremely optimistic in the sense I like how we responded in set one,” Pratte said. “We’re a team that always fights. I told my guys, ‘If we can continue to get better as the season progresses, I like our chances.”
Denning led the Knights with eight kills and two digs in only two sets. Sophomore Giles Beamer added seven kills and five blocks, and Hudson Yockey had five kills.
The Caimans only have two seniors themselves on a roster that features nine juniors. Setter/opposite Todd Clemens is one of those juniors. His steady play all over the court allowed them to stay in system most of the evening.
It’s a formula for success against a tough schedule that the Caimans hope will assist them in making a long postseason run.
“It did a great job of preparing us,” Clemens said of the schedule. “It’s put us on the next level. It showed us what we need to work on in practice. We’re able to see what these high-level teams are doing.”
As competitive and strong as Clemens is, Milo said his setter’s lighthearted contributions may be just as important.
“Emotionally, he’s probably one of the funniest guys on the team,” Milo said. “He knows how to read emotions and knows how to go to the right hitters at the right time.”
Meehan is a freelance writer.
