Ciarelli overcomes pain in Huntington Beach victory
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Boys volleyball playoffs: He hurts ankle but leads way to first-round triumph over Mater Dei.
Tony Ciarelli had to be carried out of the Mater Dei gym by two of his teammates. If only, for Mater Dei, it was during the match.
Ciarelli played through a sprained left ankle and scored the go-ahead kill in Huntington Beach's 25-23, 17-25, 25-23, 26-24, 18-16 victory against Mater Dei in a CIF-SS Division I first-round match.
Huntington Beach (16-8) will play host to Los Alamitos (22-9) in the second round Tuesday.
“He wouldn't let me take him out,” Oilers Huntington Beach coach Rocky Ciarelli said of his son. “The one thing about being his father, I could do whatever I want. And I trust him.”
Huntington Beach's standout outside hitter sprained his ankle early in the deciding game but limped on as the Oilers took a 10-5 lead. They had match point, 14-12, when Ciarelli was blocked on consecutive plays by Mater Dei middle blockers Anthony Walker and Chris King.
The Monarchs rallied on match-point four times in that game.
“We were out there giving everything we got,” Mater Dei coach Darrick Lucero said.
It was a bookend performance for Ciarelli, who had three kills to lead a six-point rally in a Game 1 Mater Dei led 23-19. Ciarelli finished with 28 kills and 9 digs. Contributions from several others were just as important for Huntington Beach.
“Early in the year when they asked about my team I said it's going to be tough,” Rocky Ciarelli said. “But you're not going to win in CIF with just one guy.”
Setter Cory Walk came through in relief of Zach Kimber, who suffered a sprained left ankle on the final play of Game 4. Mater Dei won that one despite Huntington Beach scoring four in a row to tie the game, 23-23. The Oilers showed similar resolve in Game 3, holding off Mater Dei after it scored three in a row late to tie.
The Monarchs (17-7) were led by Anthony Walker (nine blocks), Connor Hughes (24 kills and five digs) and Kyle Woodworth.
“Unbelievable,” said Coach Ciarelli, before asking for a bottle of water. “That might be one of the greatest wins I've had (in) 24 years.”
(Click here to see more game stats)
Also in Division I:
Fountain Valley 3, Royal 2:Dillon Emery's 27 kills helped the Barons (24-10) defeat the host Highlanders (15-2), 26-24, 25-14, 24-26, 15-25, 15-10.
In Division IV:
Whittier Christian 3, Garden Grove 2:Vincent Sinohui and Kenny Piguee combined for 32 kills to lead the host Heralds (11-10) past the Argonauts (8-9), 25-14, 25-18, 21-25, 21-25, 15-12.
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Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com
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