HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Unbeaten Monroe Whips Marshall, Earns Trip to 3-A Final

Monroe High boys’ volleyball Coach Linda Gayton seemed more stunned than jubilant Tuesday after her team’s 15-10, 15-5, 15-10 win over Marshall in a City Section Division 3-A semifinal at Monroe.

Gayton said she wasn’t surprised that her team stayed undefeated at 17-0, but after 20 years of coaching she is shocked to at last be playing for a championship.

The Vikings, Valley Pac-8 Conference champions and the top-seeded team in the playoffs, will take on No. 2-seeded Verdugo Hills for the 3-A title at 5 p.m. Friday at Pepperdine.

“I’ve waited a long time to coach in a championship,” said Gayton, who started the Monroe boys’ volleyball program four years ago. “I just hope we can take it.”

Monroe’s perfect record represents a sharp turnaround from its previous three seasons. The Vikings recorded what was then their best finish last year, going 8-7 and losing to Venice in the first round of the playoffs.

The smaller Barristers (12-5) were outplayed at the net and only seriously threatened in the first game.

Senior middle blocker Brad Packer, who finished with 12 kills and seven blocks, received plenty of support up front from middle blocker Jean Masequesmay and outside hitters Pierre Masequesmay and Matt Johnson. Jean finished with 13 blocks, his brother Pierre added 15 kills, and Johnson had 12 kills and 10 blocks. Senior setter Erik Ramey had 45 assists.

Monroe started slowly, falling behind, 9-5, in the first game. But Ramey took charge and set up several scoring opportunities for Packer and Johnson. The Vikings outscored Marshall, 10-1, to win the first game.

The Barristers quickly fell behind in the next two games and could not catch up.

Monroe has lost only one game in the playoffs, in an opening-round win over Belmont.