LOYOLA ATHLETICS - Cub volleyball sweeps Mira Costa in D-I title match, Swim team finishes third in state
LOYOLA VOLLEYBALL SQUAD SWEEPS MIRA COSTA IN CIF DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - WILL HOST EDISON ON TUESDAY IN CIF STATE REGIONAL FIRST ROUND
The headline in today’s Los Angeles Times reads, “Kelly shows he’s ‘real deal’. . .”
The truth be told, Loyola’s All-American, 6’ 7” outside hitter SEAN KELLY has been showing he is the “real deal” since he enrolled at Loyola in the fall of 2020.
The 2023 CIF Division I Player of the Year, the UCLA-bound KELLY is easily the top candidate to earn that honor for a second consecutive campaign after helping lead the Cubs to the 2024 CIF Division I volleyball championship on Saturday before a capacity, electric crowd at Cerritos College in a decisive three-set sweep (25-21, 25-22, 25-21) of long time arch rival Mira Costa.
KELLY had 15 kills and his serving was deadly in securing Loyola its thirteenth CIF Southern Section title, and seventh CIF Division I crown under the leadership of incomparable head coach MICHAEL BOEHLE ‘84, the reigning National Coach of the Year,
BOEHLE hopes to guide the Cubs to a fourth national title under his tutelage this week.
To earn a second consecutive national crown Loyola will have to win three matches in the loaded CIF State Southern Regionals, beginning with a first round match against Huntington Beach Edison on the Cubs’ home court at Leavey Gymnasium on Tuesday, May 14 at 6:00 p.m.
If Loyola wins its first round match against the Chargers, it will play the winner of the first round contest between Huntington Beach and Corona del Mar on Thursday, May 16.
The Regional finals are scheduled for Saturday, May 18th, at 6:00 p.m. Should the Cubs advance to the championship match, they could see Mira Costa for the third time this season.
Make no mistake, KELLY’s talented teammates are an elite crew as well, without whom Loyola would not be in the position it is.
Tickets for Tuesday’s match are available at GoFan.co.
LOYOLA SWIM TEAM FINISHES THIRD IN CALIFORNIA STATE MEET
Loyola’s Mission League championship swimming and dive team was the CIF Southern Section Division I runner-up, falling in a fierce, closely fought battle to Santa Margarita on May 4 at Mt. San Antonio College.
RAY LIU ‘25 won the 100 Back in 48.07. ANDREW BROWN ‘24 finished first in the 50 Free with a time of 20.41. The Cubs’ 200 Free Relay (ANDREW BROWN ‘24, RAY LIU ‘25, GAVIN SANTOSO ‘25, EDWARD KIM ‘25) finished in first place, swimming a scorching 1:22.57.
Loyola finished third in the State Meet held in Clovis on May 10. Long time head coach KEVIN MANN and co-head coach CHRIS GIBSON continue to reap great results for the national powerhouse Loyola aquatics program.
CUB LACROSSE DROPS A HEARTBREAKER IN CIF DIVISION I FINALS
On Friday, May 10, Loyola’s Mission League champion lacrosse squad fell in a heartbreaker to St. Margaret’s, 10-9, on a late Tartar goal with less than two minutes left on the game clock in the CIF Southern Section Division I championship match played at Fred Kelly Stadium in Orange.