Loyola’s Varsity Volleyball team wrapped up its 2019 season in May, completing the year with a 22-6 overall record and back-to-back appearances in the CIF-SS Division I Semifinals and CIF State Regional Semifinals.
The Cubs were led by 21st-year coach Michael Boehle ’84 and assistant coaches Brian Rofer and Parker Boehle '12. Earlier this year, the longtime Loyola head coach was awarded by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) for his 500th career victory achieved during the 2018 season. After completion of the 2019 campaign, Boehle’s coaching record stands at an impressive 525-73 overall (.878 winning percentage).
This season, Loyola won 9 of its first 10 matches and went on a season-high six match winning streak twice (Mar. 6–Mar. 9; Mar. 26–Apr 13), recording notable victories against Corona del Mar at home (3-1; Mar. 6) and Santa Barbara (3-2; Mar. 16) and Redondo Union (3-1; May 4) on the road. They also went 5-1 at the competitive Best of the West tournament. In total, the Cubs posted 15 clean sweeps and dropped just 25 of the 91 total sets played (.723).
The Cubs also went a perfect 6-0-0 in the Mission League, dominating league opponents with an 18-1 set record to claim another league title. Five out of the six wins were sweeps, including a senior night victory against Crespi at Leavey Gym.
In the postseason, Loyola went 3-2 after earning victories against No. 12 Laguna Beach HS and No. 4 Redondo Union in the first and second rounds of the CIF-SS Division I playoffs as the No. 5 seed before falling to eventual CIF Champion and top-ranked Newport Harbor in the CIF Semifinals. In the State Regionals, Loyola swept Santa Barbara at home before falling in five tough sets to the Sailors in the CIF Regional Semis. The Cubs were repeat CIF Semifinalists (2018, 2019) and have made the playoffs each year since 1974 with a postseason record of 70-16 (.814).
Senior outside/opposite hitter Will Campbell ’19 and junior setter Henry Wedbush ’20 were named Co-MVPs of the Mission League and earned First Team accolades. Joining them were juniors OH Luke Turner ’20 and MB Tristan Mortimer ’20 and senior libero Nico Posivak ’19, putting five Cubs on the All-Mission League First Team. Second Team recognition went to freshman OH Dillon Klein ’22 and junior OH Aidan Peters ’20. Additionally, Campbell, Turner and Wedbush were named to the 2019 All-CIF Southern Section Division I Boys Volleyball team.
This year’s 16-player roster was comprised of five seniors, 10 juniors and one freshman. Loyola will lose those five seniors to graduation (Campbell, Posivak, MB Liam Watson, S Jacob Cudiamat, OH Xander Hurley), but will return 11 letterwinners and a majority of the starting line up (Wedbush, Turner, Peters, Mortimer, Klein and middle blockers Cameron Lynch ’20 and Patrick Mohr ’20, who split time as starters). Furthermore, Campbell (UC San Diego) and Posivak (Princeton) will go on to play collegiate volleyball in the fall.
Congratulations to all of our Cubs and coaches on another outstanding season!
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