Kelseyville High boys volleyball team loses to Alhambra in first-round match
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ALHAMBRA >> “Our boys played their hearts out,” Kelseyville High School boys volleyball head coach Donelle McCallister said in a fitting epitaph to the Knights’ 2025 season.
Kelseyville, co-North Central League I champion and No. 11 playoff seed, battled the Alhambra Bulldogs, Diablo Valley League champions and sixth seed, as hard as they could before falling 25-19, 25-21, 26-28, 25-14 in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division 4 playoffs Tuesday night at Alhambra High School.
“Not once did they give up as evidenced by the third set,” McCallister said of the Knights. “We were down 22-17 and came back to win it.”
In only its second year of existence, the Kelseyville High program has come a long way in a short time under the guidance of McCallister, the longtime head coach of the Knights’ girls program, assistant coach Norberto Quiroz, and school athletic director KC White, one of the new program’s biggest supporters, according to McCallister.
“Considering the new (section) seeding equity, to play as tough as we could against a Division 3 school with a long-standing program, I think the boys did really well,” McCallister said.
Breaking down her team’s play in its final match of the season, McCallister said, “Otoniel Rivas picked up digs from swings he had not experienced all season long. Blockers got their hands on more balls, slowing down the momentum of some of their strong hitters.
“All in all it was a great experience for our team, and we are extremely proud of how they take care of each other as a team, supporting each other on and off the court, and maintaining a strong professional sportsmanlike attitude,” McCallister added.
“Our seven seniors took a leap of faith working to begin a boys volleyball team in the 2024 inaugural season,” McCallister said. “Their journey started with no volleyball technique or knowledge, just pure athleticism. They ended last night in a match that looked like real competitive volleyball. They won back-to-back NCL I titles, which cannot be denied. We will miss their dedication and leadership on the court.”
McCallister acknowledged all seven – Rivas, Jayden Teabo, Jorge Bernal, Geroge Baqleh, Jozef Arias, Julian Armas and Fabrizio Herrera – for their outstanding contributions over the past two seasons.
“It will be a hard group to replace next year,” McCallister said.
Andon Beall’s 10 kills led the Knights against Alhambra. Rivas had a team-best 22 digs, Armas finished with 17 assists, Teabo added six kills and Bernal five kills, and Herrera two blocks. Bernal and Beall also had blocks.
