Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball keeps rolling with sweep of Rio Hondo Prep
LA CAÑADA — Occupying the top rung of the Prep League standings, the Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball team is prepared for its share of challenges during the final stretch of the league campaign.
With the Rebels also ranked No. 5 in the latest CIF Southern Section Division IV poll, the team’s players and coach realize that opponents will be gunning for them, hoping to pull off an upset against the league-leading group.
Rio Hondo Prep was the latest opponent to try and knock off Flintridge Prep, as the teams battled in a league contest Friday. Despite having to battle back late to win the second game, the Rebels took care of the Kares in a sweep, winning, 25-16, 25-23, 25-19, at home.
PHOTOS: Flintridge Prep sweeps Rio Hondo Prep
“I tell the guys that every game from here on out is a trap game for us,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Sean Beattie, who is in his 18th year. “We have already beaten these teams the first time around in league and they would like nothing more than to beat us this time. So we have to be careful with that and we have to keep mentally focused no matter what team we play.
“We can’t allow ourselves to mentally think because we have beaten these teams before that it’s over. It is going to be a good test for us to stay mentally prepared the rest of the way.”
Flintridge Prep (15-2, 6-0 in league) got a match-high 19 kills along with 10 digs from junior outside hitter Dante Fregoso. Senior outside hitter Will Penn added nine kills and two aces and junior setter Aldridge Khin tallied 38 assists.
After losing their share of players to graduation last season, the Rebels were able to advance to the CIF quarterfinals a year ago. With that run, along with its current ranking, the Rebels expect to see the best opponents have to offer down the stretch.
“We welcome that,” Fregoso said. “When teams play their best against us, that brings out our best. We are ready for that kind of competition and that will only make us better as a team.”
Flintridge Prep came out of the gate and played well in the first game against Rio Hondo Prep (14-11, 3-3), jumping to a 9-3 lead. The Rebels were able to maintain the lead throughout the game, as Fregoso led the way with four kills.
Things tightened up considerably in the second game. With the score tied at 6, the Rebels went on a four-point run, getting a kill each from Fregoso and sophomore middle blocker Jake Althouse and taking advantage of two Kares errors to take a four-point advantage, 10-6.
But Rio Hondo Prep kept whittling away at the lead and after a kill by junior opposite Arthur Valverde, the Kares jumped in front, 15-14. They kept up the pressure and increased their lead to five, 20-15. Flintridge Prep wouldn’t go away, clawing its way back on an 8-2 run that gave it a 23-22 lead following a Fregoso kill. A subsequent kill by Penn put the Rebels at game-point, 24-22. Following a Flintridge Prep attacking error, the Rebels were able to take the second game on a Kares service error.
“We have had a tendency this year to play up and down some times and I think we did that in the second game,” Beattie said. “The good thing is that we were able to calm ourselves down after going down and fight our way back. Resiliency is a good way to describe how this team can fight back.”
The third game was close early on before the Rebels seized control and went up, 16-9. But again Rio Hondo Prep stuck around and trailed by only three late, 19-16. But Flintridge Prep finished the game on a 6-3 run to close things out.
