Koji Hefner has settled into the middle attacker spot for the San Marcos boys volleyball team, which means trouble for future opponents.
Setters Ayden Welch and Tyler Walker gave Hefner plenty of scoring opportunities in Tuesday night’s first-place Channel League showdown at Dos Pueblos, and the junior delivered like he did for the basketball team during the winter season.
Hefner slammed 17 kills, committed just one error and posted a .571 hitting percentage, helping power the Royals to a 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 25-19 victory at Sovine Gym.
The win keeps San Marcos in first place in the league with a record of 7-1. Dos Pueblos falls to 6-2.
Dos Pueblos couldn’t contain the 6-foot-4 Hefner, who’s been a three-year varsity basketball player for the Royals and was a first-team All-Channel League selection this past season. He finished behind teammate and match kill leader Matteo Burdick who pounded 18 kills from the outside. Fellow outside hitter Calvin Frisell had 13 kills in a balanced attack.
“Koji was awesome,” said San Marcos coach Dave Goss, who was making his first visit to Sovine Gym as a visiting coach after assisting at DP, where is son Micah was a standout player for four years. “He was a force at the net, and DP really didn’t have an answer for him, just like we didn’t have an answer for Noah Grant in games three and four.”
Grant led the Chargers with 17 kills on the outside.
“When our passing stabilized and we could run our middle, as we did in games one, two and four, we’re tough,” Goss said. “Koji and Jamie (Hetrick), we got good production out of them. Our setters were making good decisions all night. I was really proud of the way they set tonight.”
While basketball is his main sport, Hefner has become a great fit on the volleyball team. His improved play has given San Marcos a more diversified attack.
“We’ve had some great success, as everyone knows, with Koji,” said Goss. “I think we’ve lost one match with him in the lineup. He gives our team a lot of confidence. We’re so glad to have him part of it. He’s such a great contributor, just with his energy, with his positivity, with his support of his teammates. We just love playing the sport with Koji.”
Hefner has having a good time playing volleyball and being a major contributor to the team’s success.
“It’s just been fun getting to know the team and getting to know the game,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed it.”
Hefner credited the team’s passing for allowing the setters to utilize him.
“Great sets and great passes, too, like the libero (Keanu Nguyen) and everyone just getting it up to the net so we can run me. It’s been great,” he said.
The Royals, sparked by a Burdick service ace, went on a three-point run to break a 13-13 tie in the first set and never looked back. They won the set despite committing eight serving errors.
“Part of that is due to the adrenaline we had to play in our cross-town rivals,” said Goss. “I expected them to sail some in game. We don’t want to sail eight in one game, but the other aspects of our game were really strong tonight against a solid Chargers team.”
San Marcos kept the pressure on in the second set behind the hitting of Burdick and Hefner, and some big blocks from Walker.
Dos Pueblos picked up its game in the third set. Grant went off for six kills and middle Kawin Ramko delivered three kills and a stuff block.
The Chargers got kills from Nathan Vincent, Grant and middle Ben Wojogbe to open up a quick lead in the fourth set. But San Marcos answered with three straight points — a Hefner kill and two DP miscues. The score stayed close until the Royals went on a 5-1 run to open up a 20-15 advantage.
Welch finished the match with a kill on an overdig and a block.
With two league matches remaining, San Marcos plays host to Oxnard on Thursday while Dos Pueblos travels to league co-leader Santa Barbara.