Top-seeded Saddleback boys volleyball team aiming for first trip to CIF finals

Saddleback High School’s boys volleyball team is in the semifinal round of the CIF Division 6 playoffs for the first time and will meet Le Lycee from Los Angeles Saturday at 6 p.m. at Saddleback.

The winner of Saturday’s match faces the winner of the Wiseburn Davinci vs. Monrovia match next Saturday in the championship match.

Saddleback (20-2) defeated Ganesha in five sets Wednesday night to reach the semifinals.

Axel Gallegos had 14 kills and Lisati Vaiala 20 kills to lead the top-seeded Roadrunners.

Osbaldo Julian and Donovan Castellanos each had nine aces for Saddleback.

“It’s a very exciting time,” said Saddleback Coach Jose Medina. “I’m excited, grateful, and honored to be able to help Saddleback reach the semifinals for the first time ever in volleyball school history.

“As a first year boys varsity head coach I couldn’t be any more proud of the team’s performance this year and for everything they have accomplished this season. It not only has been an exciting time for myself but also for the athletes to have reached semifinals for the first time ever but also for our whole school campus. We couldn’t be any more proud to represent Saddleback.”

Saddleback opened the playoffs with three-set victories over Orange County Christian and Newbury Park Adventist.

A number of other OC teams, including Portola, which reached the playoffs for the first time in school history, will be competing in Saturday’s semifinals.

FULL SCHEDULE:

Division 1

Beckman (37-3) at Loyola (20-2)

Newport Harbor (23-5) at Mira Costa (19-9)

Division 2

Servite (22-9) at Thousand Oaks (27-9)

San Marcos (27-7) at Tesoro (15-6)

Division 3

Upland (35-3) at Aliso Niguel (18-10)

Royal (20-6) at Laguna Blanca (19-4)

Division 4

Portola (24-10) at Capistrano Valley Christian (23-7)

Long Beach Millikan (26-8) at St. Margaret’s (25-8)

Division 5

Carpinteria (19-7-1) at Fairmont Prep (22-7)

Sunny Hills (21-5) at San Gabriel Academy (21-2)

Division 6

Le Lycee (22-9) at Saddleback (20-2)

Wiseburn DaVinci (27-8) at Monrovia (24-6)

RELATED: Portola gets past Pacifica Christian in five sets in quarterfinals.