Volleyball Brea Olinda loses at the San Gabriel Academy in a thriller in 5 sets in the CIF -SS final

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The San Gabriel Academy coach Derek Duran, Center, famous with his players and the plaque of the volleyball championship boys from Division 7 CIF-SS in Brea on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, contributing photographer)

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BREA – The volleyball team Brea Olinda Boys was about to be swept away in the championship match of the CIF -SS division 7 against the San Gabriel Academy on Wednesday at Brea Olinda high school.

The Wildcats fell in the first set, lost badly in the second set, but then won the next two to force a fifth and decide.

But the Eagles, led by their strong external strikers, Achille Huang and Ryan Agustin, returned to take the fifth set and win the match and the championship, 25-20, 25-15, 23-25, 21-25, 15-10.

The Wildcats had not reached the qualifying series of the South section since 2009, when they lost in the first round, said Brea coach Olinda, Kavita Arasu.

“This is the first time in the history of the school that we are going so far,” said Arasu. “So this season, we have done a phenomenal job and I have to give a big cry to my assistant coach. He really intensified and did certain things that I could not do and we have associated ourselves. We were able to have a large group of boys who wanted it and I wanted to work hard and we agree.”

The Wildcats fought despite a loss of external striker CJ Villaverde for an injury in the second set.

“The boys fought for him,” said Arasu. “They wanted it. It was difficult because we really wanted to win everything, but I congratulate the San Gabriel Academy for having also been and having an incredible season.”

The San Gabriel Academy (16-10) mainly counted on Huang, which has often started and finished with 34 striking attacks.

The Wildcats (18-13) were directed by Addison Altermatt and Mason del Rosario who had 11 and eight striking attacks, respectively, and combined for six blocks.

“We have a lot of younger guys who have intensified,” said Altermatt. “And this is the first time in our program that we have a good team that our coach has formed. And no one has ever arrived in our school history. And I think we just had a fire under us this season to continue to participate.”

After the Wildcats lost Villaverde, the Eagles coach Derek Duran, said that he thought that his team would leave with a scan.

“But they fought hard,” said Duran about Brea Olinda. “I give them all the respect because for them to go there and throw another guy and win the next two, then bring him to five and scare us like that, it is a testimony of a good coach and a good team.”

The Wildcats took an advance of 5-1 in the third set and while the Eagles were still close behind and set out to make the scoring 24-23 before Jeremiah Ammermann obtained the final for the Wildcats to send the match to a fourth set.

Brea Olinda rushed at the start of the fourth set but took an advance of 7-5 on consecutive victims of Seith Vivek and never dragged from this point.

Huang and Augustin combined eight of the 15 points of the Eagles in the fifth set.

California Daily Newspapers

Volleyball Brea Olinda loses at the San Gabriel Academy in a thriller in 5 sets in the CIF -SS final – Orange County Register

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