Boys' volleyball survives first three rounds of CIF, awaits semi-finals

Chelsea BrandweinSports EditorThe boys' volleyball team survived three California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) opponents and is now looking to semi-finals.In round one of the championships on Tuesday, May 8, the Vikings defeated Mark Keppel High School in three sets. While the first two sets seemed to be a piece of cake for the Vikings (25-8 and 25-14) the Mark Keppel Aztecs put up a fight in the third set — not enough, however, to hold off Samo who won 25-22.The second round of CIF on Thursday, May 10 pitted Samo and Bishop Montgomery High School against each other and while the first and second sets were very close, 32-30 and 27-25, the Bishop Montgomery Knights lost their momentum in the third set and succumbed to Samo, 25-13.Round three of CIF on Saturday, May 12 served up some harsher competition for the Vikings as they struggled to emerge as victors against Crossroads on their home turf. It took Samo five sets to establish themselves as the winners as they lost the first two sets, 25-23, 25-14, 25-20, 25-21, 15-13.The Vikings are now awaiting semi-finals and senior co-captain Trevor Pye has high hopes.“Everybody has been really focused in practice and in games and it shows on the court," Pye said. "We have a tough game tomorrow but if we play composed, we will win.”Semi-finals take place Tuesday, May 15 in Samo's North Gym at 7PM.cbrandwein@thesamohi.com