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Upland tops Tesoro with strong, tough effort in Division 2 boys volleyball final

May 14, 2023

NORWALK — Upland boys volleyball coach Scott Robertson wasn’t sure how his team would respond to being in the CIF-SS Division 2 final Saturday at Cerritos College.

A year ago, the team had not responded well to the bright lights and big game environment of the finals.

Upland High School players and coaches hold their championship plaque and patches as they celebrate their victory over Tesoro High School in the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Upland High School players celebrate their victory over Tesoro High School in the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dylan Patton, left, and Rex Smith, right, of Tesoro High School attempt to block a shot by Kai Vogel, center, of Upland High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Isaiah Vogel, left, of Upland High School goes up to hit the ball past Nathan Draper, center, Dylan Patton, right, of Tesoro High School, during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Upland High School bench erupts in victory as they beat Tesoro High School in the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jase Fukushima, left, of Tesoro High School, goes up to block a shot by Ali Elahir, right, during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cameron Farrehyar, left, and Aiden Dufour, right, of Upland High School go up to block a shot by Kaumana Carreira, center, of Tesoro High School, during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kaumana Carreira, left, of Tesoro High School goes up to block a hit by Aj Contreras, right, of Upland High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tesoro High School fans cheer for their team as they play Upland High School in the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ali Elahir, left, and Aiden Dufour of Upland High School go up to block a shot by Kaumana Carreira, center, of Tesoro High School, during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Upland High School fans cheer for their team as they play Tesoro High School in the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kai Vogel of Upland High School sets the ball following a serve from Tesoro High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jase Fukushima, left, of Tesoro High School goes up to block a shot by Isaiah Vogel of Upland High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Troy Cuttrell, left, and Nathan Draper of Tesoro High School go up to block a shot by Aj Contreras, right, of Upland High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kai Vogel of Upland High School sets the ball against Tesoro High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Nathan Draper, left, of Tesoro High School tries to get the ball past Aj Contreras, right, of Upland High School during the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Upland won the championship. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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But Saturday, the Highlanders shook off an opening-set loss and defeated Tesoro in four sets, 19-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-23, to win the school’s first section title in boys volleyball.

Upland (28-4) took down the defending Division 2 champions while learning a few things from last year’s loss to Royal in the Division 3 final.

“We shook off the scary part of being in the Southern Section finals,” Robertson said. “Like last year, we weren’t ready to play. This year we didn’t look ready in the first set, but I could tell we were just tight and once we loosened up I knew we were gonna be OK.”

AJ Contreras had a team-high 19 kills and Isaiah Vogel added 17 kills for Upland.

“Our pins have carried us all season and our setter (Aiden DuFour) put them in the right spots to be successful,” Robertson said.

DuFour finished with 37 assists for Upland.

Before the start of the second set Contreras pleaded with the Highlanders supporters to make some noise. The crowd responded.

“The crowd factor played a big role in the game,” Contreras said.

“We really had to prove ourselves, we lost some big pieces (from last year) and heard from teams that we aren’t the same, but this game helped us prove that we are, and that we’re better.”

Tesoro outside hitter Kaumana Carreira had 15 kills and opposite Nathan Draper finished with 10.

The No. 3 seed Titans (21-6) were unable to generate consistent attacks in the second and third sets, while Upland applied pressure at the net and also got powerful serves from Kai Vogel, who collected a pair of aces.

Tesoro battled in the fourth set and nearly forced a fifth with the score tied 23-23, but Isaiah Vogel was able to get the final two points and clinch the championship celebration.

“We just happened to get in the right rotations, and get key serves at the right time,” Robertson said. “Our boys just figured out a way to gut it out.”

“Taking out Tesoro, a top-ranked team, Redondo, Los Alamitos, I mean, we went through the gauntlet to get here,” he added, “so I’m proud of their desire, their hustle and their heart.”

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Orange County Register

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Upland tops Tesoro with strong, tough effort in Division 2 boys volleyball final

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