Royal secures first CIF-SS boys volleyball title since 1994 with Division 3 sweep

At last, the Royal High boys volleyball team can start a brand new legacy.

Twenty-eight years after winning the final of four section titles in 1994, the Highlanders can finally add the latest championship banner to the gymnasium wall. Start sizing up those title rings.

Controlling, if not dominating, top-ranked Upland from start to finish, second-seeded Royal rolled up a stunning 25-17, 25-23, 25-19 sweep to win the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship at Long Beach City College on Saturday.

Royal coach Dean Borth was the star setter on Royal's first championship team in 1989. He learned the sport under Highlanders coaching legend Bob Ferguson.

Now he's directed his own team to a CIF-SS crown. Royal has now played in 11 championship finals, and won five titles.

"That's been the plan all along," Borth said. "When I first started playing at Royal, Bob asked all the players to put down their goals. One of mine was to coach the team, and win a championship. I wanted to be like Bob Ferguson."

He added: "Very surreal. It's very emotional, very special. There's not too much time to think about it when it's going on. It was very hectic, since we also had a prom that night to get our players to. But going home, with my wife driving, it finally hit me on what had just happened."

Derek Bradford racked up 16 kills, Evan Costley and Braeden Wooton each had eight kills and four aces and Spencer Borth and Evan Ford combined for 24 digs. In other words, the normal all-around game for the Highlanders.

Royal (24-6) is not done yet. The Highlanders were awarded the top seed in boys Division 2 in the CIF State SoCal Regional tournament.

Royal will open up at home on Tuesday night vs. Torrey Pines.

The Highlanders may have been considered the underdogs Saturday against a strong Upland team that entered 37-3 and had won 20 consecutive matches and 27 straight games, including 12 in postseason.

Royal never flinched.

"We were prepared," said Borth. "We had watched videos, figured out what might be the best way to attack. We told our players, 'Stay calm, stay composed stay confident.' That's exactly what they did."

Each time Upland would try to rally, Royal responded.

The Highlanders built a 16-8 lead in Game 1, saw the advantage cut to 20-17, then closed it out on a 5-0 run.

Game 2 featured 12 ties and five lead changes, but the Highlanders controlled the action late to go up 2-0.

The lead in Game 3 was 20-19 before Royal finished it off with six consecutive points.

"I talked to a lot of area coaches who had played them, and got a lot of good ideas," said Borth. "They all told me if we passed the ball as well as we normally do, we should win."

Borth shared an emotional moment at match's end. Bob Ferguson had attended most Royal home matches this season, but was unable to attend the final because of previous vacation plans.

Borth instead got a congratulatory hug from Heidi Ferguson, Bob's daughter and herself a former star player and coach with Royal's girls team.

"It was special," said Borth. "She told me one hug was from Bob and Sandy, and the double hug was from her."

Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Royal earns first boys volleyball title since 1994 with Divi. 3 sweep