Santa Barbara High boys volleyball went on the road and earned a sweep of Santiago High in the CIF-SS Division 4 Semifinals on Saturday in Corona, 25-21, 25-16, 30-28.
The Dons will face off against Sage Hill in the CIF-SS Division 4 title matchup next weekend. The time, date and location will be announced on Monday.
“I am so proud of these boys and what they’ve all accomplished this year,” Santa Barbara High head coach Chad Arneson said. “The amount of growth and chemistry has been phenomenal.
“When you start the season, you have personal and team goals you want to achieve, and our boys get an opportunity to win a CIF title next week, and that’s all you ask for.”
The 2025 squad is Arneson’s fifth to reach the CIF Finals, the last of which won the 2021 Division 2 championship over Huntington Beach.
The Santa Barbara High serving game proved to be the difference in the first two sets, led by an 11-serve run in set two by Hayes Costner.
Costner’s run from the service line, which featured seven aces, allowed the Dons to race out to an 11-2 lead and cruise to the 2-0 overall advantage from there.
In the third set, the two sides exchanged blows back and forth as Santa Barbara vied for the sweep and Santiago battled to keep its season alive.
Chase Holdren facilitated a strong Dons’ offensive attack while Jack Goligoski, who had 14 digs, provided three aces down the stretch to earn the 30-28 win in set three.
“Chase’s setting decisions are a key to our success and he continues to shine each round by sharing the wealth by making the correct sets at the right time,” Arneson said. “Santiago continued to fight in each game and gain some momentum, however, our boys wouldn’t let that happen.”
Holdrren ended the night with 35 assists to go along with nine digs while finding Benicio Duarte and Luke Zuffelato on the outside, who each tallied 12 kills.
In the middle, Carter Hubbard hammered down six kills on seven attempts while Kristian Dybdahl collected five kills.
El Toro 3, Laguna Blanca 2 (Div. 6)
The Owls fell in the CIF-SS Division 6 Semifinals with a five-set loss to El Toro on Saturday, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 13-15.
“We had our chances tonight, but just couldn’t sustain any momentum, especially in the fifth,” Laguna Blanca head coach Jason Donnelly said. “We played hard and left it on the floor. I’m really proud of the boys’ effort tonight. Unfortunately, we came up just a little short.
“This team grew so much over the course of the season, and particularly during this playoff run. It was fun to be a part of it.”
Liam Knezevic led the Owls with 20 kills and 10 digs, while Tyson Deveze recorded 11 kills.
Baylor Wilson was in the middle of the action to the tune of 35 assists, and Soren Alldredge contributed six kills and three blocks.