LJ b VB: Shots and snippets

By Ed Piper

La Jolla b VB 3, Point Loma 1
Tues., April 24, 2018

--Gabe Vargas, a 6'7" senior right outside hitter, asked before the match at Point Loma High what the maximum vertical height is at the point where he contacts the ball on his left-handed spike: "I was measured at 11'3". I think I actually go higher than that."

--Berkeley Miesfeld, the team's senior setter, asked if he's really 6'5" as it said in a story on his MVP honors at the Vikings' recent tourney, the Chick-fil-A Tournament at Yorba Linda High in Orange County: "Yes, I am." Hitting the ball with his left hand in warmups, he was asked if he's left-handed: "Yes."

--Two Vikings bounced a volleyball off the wall at La Jolla's end of the court near the conclusion of warmups in a modified form of foursquare or handball. During the team match that ensued, the host Pointers only managed a win in the third game to avoid a three-game sweep by the Vikings, still ranked number one in CIF San Diego Section. Coach Dave Jones' squad is still rated eighth in the nation.

--Junior middle hitter-blocker Nathaniel Gates, like Vargas a 6'7" giant, was his usual relaxed self before the contest against La Jolla's closest competitor in the Western League this season. Teamed with Gabe in warmups, the former basketball player dribbled the volleyball between his legs a few times, smiling when a reporter noted it.

--Sky captain Miles Matalon, a receiver on the football team, was said by a teammate to have a superb vertical leap. Matalon, acknowledging his excellent vertical leap and asked how high his hop is, if it's 30 inches or more, said, "I don't know".