Coach Nick Rubacky was in fourth grade in 1993. Assistant coach Max Enriquez wasn’t even born.
The parents of this year’s likely CIF Player of the Year — USC-bound Christian Connell — had yet to meet. There were only two divisions for San Diego boys volleyball that year.
That was the last time Torrey Pines won a CIF championship in boys volleyball.
The drought is no longer. It’s time to party like it’s 1993.
The Falcons put the finishing touches on a whirlwind season with a 27-25, 25-23, 25-19 sweep over their nemesis down the road, Cathedral Catholic, in Saturday’s Open Division championship played at Southwestern College.
“I’m just so happy for the boys, especially the senior class,” Rubacky said. “These guys have worked so hard for four years, and they deserve all the credit. I’m just happy to be steering the ship in the right direction. These young men are a pretty special group, and I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”
Sometimes players play tentative in big moments. That wasn’t the case with the Falcons (30-3). They went through the gauntlet of the southern region’s top teams this season on the way to the No. 6 ranking in MaxPreps.com.
They’ve played big teams and beat most of them. That helped prepare them for their Del Mar Heights Road rival that was attempting to win three consecutive Open Division titles.
“It’s nothing they haven’t seen in a match and in training-wise in our own gym,” Rubacky said. “Them being prepared, it’s easy for them to stay in the moment and be prepared for what they need to do.”
Time and again Saturday preparation met opportunity at the net. Although most volleyball coaches preach how the serve and game ultimately decides wins and losses, the physical play of the Falcons was the difference against the Dons (22-7).
“We have so many guys who are also super athletic,” Mohebbi said. “It gives us a much larger presence at the net than most teams in San Diego. We’re super confident in ourselves and super mature. We stay disciplined, practice a lot, and when it’s high pressure we just fall back on our training.”
Connell led the way with a math-high 23 kills, hitting a whopping .512. Fellow senior Kiamoush Mohebbi hit .600 with eight kills and four stuff blocks. The Falcons hit .381 as a team with 19 blocks.
A schedule that included finishing tied for third in the Best of the West Tournament set Torrey Pines up for success when it mattered most.
“Playing those guys from Orange County gave us experience in those tight situations,” said Connell, who departed with his teammates for prom after the match. “That first set was 27-25. We need one big play to win and we got it. That experience helped out.”
He did so with the man who will be coaching him in a couple months in the bleachers — USC head coach Jeff Nygaard.
“He’s a steady player. Physical presence. Leads his team. Does a lot of great things,” Nygaard said after the match. “I love the iron sharpens iron mentality. He can come into our environment in the toughest league in the nation, and he’s a guy who can compete.”
Declan Flanagan added 10 kills for the Falcons, who also got double-digits dig totals from Connell (10) and senior libero David Quinones, who finished with 15 digs.
The Dons were led by senior Ryan Enos, who totaled 17 kills. Fellow senior Charlie Sutton chipped in with eight kills. Although they fell short of the trophy, making it to the Open Division final three years in a row is an accomplishment not to be overlooked.
“This has been an incredible journey for these guys,” said coach Pat Bonner, whose team lost to Eastlake in the season opener. “To get from there to the product that we showed tonight, I stand behind these guys. I’ve told them they’re not judged by wins and losses, but by their improvement and their attitudes.”
The Falcons this season figured they’d live or die by the adage that big players make big players in big moments. It only took 31 years for it to finally pay off.
“It’s necessary,” Rubacky said. “Most any team that wins a championship, you need your best players to shine in the biggest moments. And thankfully we have multiple guys that can do that. I couldn’t be more proud of the guys.”
