Boys volleyball: Improbable hero keys North win

Barry Faulkner

HUNTINGTON BEACH - In a gathering of stars, many of whom are bound

for high-profile collegiate destinations, the outcome of Friday night’s

Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County All-Star boys volleyball match was

determined by, of all things, an Argonaut.

Garden Grove High senior Robert Rubalcava stole what appeared to be an

easy victory from the South, then latched on to a piece of the Most

Valuable Player award.

Rubalcava, a seemingly unassuming 6-foot-1 outside hitter, who led the

Argos to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division III

playoffs, pounded a team-high six kills and added a stuff block, despite

sitting out the entire first game.

His presence helped the North rally for an 8-25, 27-25, 15-11 victory

at Edison High.

Rubalcava was one of six North players yet to decide on a collegiate

home and two of his teammates are bound for community colleges. But

Rubalcava, as well as Mater Dei senior Jonathan Daze, the other Co-MVP,

were enough to overcome a South roster that will send players to USC,

UCLA, UC Irvine, Princeton, Harvard and Michigan.

“I thought that first game was a little too easy,” South Co-Coach

Steve Conti, from Corona del Mar High, said. “I knew the rest of the

match wouldn’t be that easy. I thought Rubalcava was the biggest impact

player out there.”

The North made little impact in the opening game as the South,

including starter Blake Tippett from Newport Harbor, rolled to a

13-minute triumph in the rally-scoring format.

Tippett, a 6-3 outside hitter bound for USC, had a kill, an assist and

a stuff block to help the South establish what seemed like firm command.

But the lineups changed in the second game and so did the momentum.

Despite the efforts of CdM standouts Evan Burden (10 assists), Forrest

Mack (two kills and one block) and Charlie Alshuler (one kill and one

block), as well as Newport Harbor senior middle blocker Christian

Berg-Hansen (two kills and two blocks), the North claimed narrow victory

in the second game.

The third game was tied at 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, but the North, with

Rubalcava’s jump serve paving the way, scored five straight en route to

closing out the match.

Despite the setback, Tippett and Burden, who will represent Orange

County in tonight’s inaugural Orange County vs. South Bay All-Star Match,

7 o’clock at Redondo Union High, said they enjoyed Friday’s festivities.

“This was all about fun,” said Burden, who is also bound for USC.

Blake Robinson from CIF Division III champion Santa Margarita, led the

South attack with a match-high nine kills. He also had two ace serves.

Conti will return to the bench tonight at Redondo, where he will guide

the 12-player Orange County contingent along with Capistrano Valley Coach

Rich Polk.