Kennedy’s return to glory: Fighting Irish capture CIF title with win over Esperanza

Kennedy seniors Seth Sainz (left) and Logan Benda (right), following the Fighting Irish’s victory. (PHOTOS: Adam Kunin, For OC Sports Zone).

For the first time since 2017, Kennedy High School’s boys volleyball team is a CIF Southern Section champion.

In a highly competitive affair Saturday afternoon, the Fighting Irish defeated Esperanza 3-1 in the CIF Division 5 final at Cerritos College.

Kennedy (20-10) advances to play next week in the CIF regionals with pairings set to be announced on Sunday. 

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With a team full of experienced and developed players, Kennedy Coach Travis Warner knew early on that this year’s team had the ability to bring the program back to great heights 

“I knew we were returning our entire team this year,” Warner said. “I didn’t graduate anybody except for one player … So we’ve been talking about how we are the alpha dog anytime we come in the gym, and we had to believe that.”

His squad relied on that confidence and belief to weather a talented Esperanza squad that went toe-to-toe with Kennedy in a back-and-forth match.

The Aztecs (20-12) battled tough to win the first set 25-23 and seemed to have momentum early. However, Kennedy responded and won the next two sets, including a 27-25 win in the second set, which required four match points. 

Then, with the fourth set in the balance, the Fighting Irish’s star players shined. 

Seniors such as middle blocker Seth Sainz and outside hitter Logan Benda kicked into another gear to propel their team to victory.

The drama-filled fourth set featured six lead changes, with Kennedy ultimately coming out on top 26-24 to secure the match and claim the title. 

Sainz flew around the court to notch a team-leading 18.5 points, consistently coming up with blocks and kills at the net. 

“I just tuned everything out and saw ball and went for it,” Sainz said. 

Meanwhile, Benda trailed close behind with 17 points and finished with a team-leading 17 kills. The senior, who was visibly emotional after the game, explained the magnitude of the victory.

“It means everything,” Benda said. “I’ve worked four years for this moment. It means so much … I had everybody supporting me. It’s just so surreal.”

Despite coming up short, Esperanza Coach Jordyn Griggs remained proud of her team’s effort and expressed gratitude for her seniors who helped bring the program back to the postseason. 

“I’m incredibly proud of this program and how much we’ve all improved,” Griggs said. “I’m very excited for next year, but I’m [also] very proud of this senior group. They have a lot of heart, and that’s what drove us really far.”

Senior outside hitter William Preston had 22 kills and 23 points and senior outside hitter Tyler Lemmon had 16 kills and 17 points to lead Esperanza.

Looking ahead, the Fighting Irish seemed poised to be a dangerous team going forward. Their roster’s size and athleticism could give them a chance to make a deep run in the playoffs, as one of the program’s best seasons in recent history rolls on into regional play next week.

“This group is the most athletic team I’ve ever had,” Warner said. “I knew that we had the most talent on the floor, it was just a matter of can we get through those four runs of errors that we make?”