Huntington Beach High School’s boys’ volleyball team asserted its dominance in the Sunset League Friday night, defeating rival Corona del Mar in four sets (25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15). The victory marks a significant shift in the league standings, placing the Oilers firmly in control as they pursue a second consecutive championship in what’s widely considered the nation’s most competitive high school volleyball league.
The win was a direct response to a straight-set loss to Corona del Mar earlier this month, a match that Huntington Beach coach Craig Pazanti described as a “wake-up call.” The Oilers (15-2 7-1 in the Sunset League) now face a challenging stretch of road games against Los Alamitos and Edison, both of whom recently secured four-set victories of their own, before a mid-April showdown with Newport Harbor. Navigating this gauntlet will be crucial to solidifying their position at the top of the league.
Senior opposite Ben Arguello led the offensive charge for Huntington Beach, delivering 22 kills in a versatile performance. The Oilers’ success was also built on a strong showing in the middle, an area where they struggled in the previous meeting with Corona del Mar. Sophomores Carter Tchaikovsky and Lucas Brazao orchestrated the attack, distributing the ball effectively to outside hitters Logan Hutnick (12 kills) and Colin Choi (six kills), and middle blocker Kenno Kosty (combined with Brazao for 15 kills).
A Response to Early Season Struggles
The March 4th loss to Corona del Mar was a humbling experience for Huntington Beach, a team consistently ranked among the nation’s best. Currently ranked No. 3 by MaxPreps and No. 5 by AVCA/USA Today, the Oilers were swept 25-20, 25-19, 25-14 in that earlier contest. Pazanti emphasized the need to refocus on fundamentals and training. “We’ve got to put in the work and make sure we’re going to fall back to our training, and that’s what we did,” he said. “We’ve been training pretty hard since that last match, and I consider it’s showing on the court.”
That renewed focus translated into a more aggressive and efficient performance Friday night. Huntington Beach’s ability to prevent Corona del Mar from scoring off service proved particularly impactful, allowing them to control the fourth set and close out the match. The team’s depth also played a key role, with contributions from players like Hudson Atwell and Nick Low off the bench.
Depth and a Competitive Practice Environment
Pazanti attributes much of the team’s success to the high level of competition within the program itself. With a roster of 22 players, the Oilers are able to push each other in practice, ensuring that no one is complacent. “We’ve got a lot of talent,” Pazanti explained. “One of the keys to us – and a couple of these other [elite] programs – is that in practice every day, we’ve got to go hard against the B side.”
This internal competition extends beyond the starting lineup. The ability to bring in fresh players during matches, as they did in a recent sweep of Fountain Valley, allows the Oilers to maintain a high level of energy and focus throughout the season. “They were a little bit fresher, ready to go,” Pazanti said of the players who came off the bench Friday night.
Corona del Mar Faces Setback, Remains a Contender
Friday’s loss was the second consecutive setback for Corona del Mar (21-5, 6-2), who were previously undefeated in league play. They suffered an upset loss to Edison High School on Wednesday, a result that head coach Katey Thompson acknowledged served as a wake-up call. Despite the defeat, Thompson remained optimistic about her team’s potential. “Competing with Huntington, going forward with the level of play on both sides very high, so I’m very happy with that,” she said. “It was just some dumb errors on our side, and we can’t make the dumb errors.”
Corona del Mar was led by Penn State-bound setter Drake Foley, who recorded 17 assists, nine kills, three blocks, and two service aces. Outside hitter Ben Brown added nine kills, although opposite Brady Gant and middle blocker Daniel Booker each contributed eight kills.
Looking Ahead: A Challenging Road to the Championship
Huntington Beach’s path to a second consecutive Sunset League title won’t be uncomplicated. Their upcoming matches against Los Alamitos (19-6, 4-3) on Wednesday and Edison High School next Friday will be crucial tests. Edison recently upset Corona del Mar in four sets, demonstrating their ability to compete with the league’s top teams. The Oilers will also face Newport Harbor in mid-April.
“Our league is a gauntlet,” Pazanti said. “There’s just no nights off in this league, and we’ve got to make sure, being in control, that we don’t have to rely on anybody else.” The Oilers will need to continue to execute at a high level, focusing on strong passing and serving, to maintain their position atop the standings. They also have the Clash of the Titans tournament in Hawaii on the horizon, where they’ll have a rematch against national No. 1 Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (23-2), the only team to defeat Huntington Beach in the last 12 matches.
The Sunset League remains highly competitive, and the race for the championship is far from over. Fans can follow the Oilers’ progress and identify updated standings on the MaxPreps website.
What are your thoughts on Huntington Beach’s chances of repeating as league champions? Share your predictions and comments below.
