West Ranch Sweeps Valencia In CIF Boys Volleyball Championship

It was a triumphant third attempt for West Ranch as they defeated and swept Valencia in the Division 4 CIF Boys Volleyball Championship on Saturday evening.

Despite having two defeats from the Vikings in the regular season, the Wildcats defied the odds and emerged as champions.

“Playing in front of a standing-room-only crowd at College of the Canyons against our biggest rival was a surreal experience,” said West Ranch Boys Volleyball Head Coach Brandon Johnson. “To be able to shake off two regular-season losses and come through when it mattered most is an amazing feeling.”

This highly anticipated match-up had the potential to go either way, given the two teams’ histories. Having lost twice to the same team, West Ranch could have let that affect their psyche, but instead, they rose to the occasion to etch their names in the history books.

“As a coach, all you can ask of your players is that they work hard and improve,” said Johnson. “That is exactly what this group did and I could not be more proud of what they have accomplished.

Even though the Wildcats swept Valencia, the Vikings made them work for every set with scores of 25-23, 30-28 and 26-24.

Logan Sanchez, a junior, played a crucial role in West Ranch’s victory with 11 kills and two blocks. In addition to Sanchez, junior Noah Douphner had a productive night, finishing with 18 kills.

“It’s a special group of boys that not only brought home the first CIF Boys Volleyball title in school history but also won the CIF Academic Award this year. They are champions on and off the court,” said Johnson.

The team’s GPA for the season was a whopping 3.8, which placed them first in academics among boys’ volleyball teams.

With a championship added to the trophy case, the Wildcats want to add another in the state tournament.

“Qualifying for the state regional tournament is a huge accomplishment for the school,” said Johnson. “We take every match seriously and will be prepared for Sage Hill.”

West Ranch is set to host Sage Hill in the first round of the CIF SoCal Boys Volleyball Championships on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

For all updates on sports in the Santa Clarita Valley, follow KHTS Sports on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .