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Neil Hafley claims Acorn League boys volleyball championship
Acorn League boys volleyball
Neil Hafley coach Tara Maruyama smiles as Oliver Desjardines (18) celebrates with Ryan Medina Jr. after Medina Jr.’s monster service run to end the match. - photo by Dave Campbell

Neil Hafley’s Ryan Medina Jr. tallied four aces in a seven-point service run to close out the second and deciding set Tuesday and give the Hawks the Acorn League boys volleyball championship with a 25-23, 25-19 sweep of Veritas at Stella Brockman School.

“This team has come a long, long way,” Neil Hafley coach Tara Maruyama said. “And we were coming in as the underdogs, but I knew that they could do it. I tell them every single day that I know what they are capable of, but they need to know what they are capable of.

“They far exceeded my expectations. They were amazing.”

There were four ties and six lead changes in the first set. The Hawks were leading 22-16 when the Vipers went on a run behind two Isaiah Revives aces to come with 22-21. Neil Hafley’s Keiante Wakefield (five kills, four blocks, two aces) ended that spurt with a kill and the Hawks held on for the 25-23 win.

Medina Jr. (six aces) and Wakefield were named co-MVP’s. Oliver Desjardines (two kills, two blocks), Noah German (two aces) and C.J. Silva (ace) rounded out the Hawks attack.

Arsh Gosal paced Veritas with two kills, two aces and a block. Seban Thomas added two kills, Manolo Asuncion a kill and Isaiah Revives and ace.