Calvary Chapel Downey’s Andrew Rubio (24) hugs Mark Maya (20) as they win the final point against Beverly Hills in their CIF Division 7 semi-final playoff game. Calvary Chapel Downey defeats Beverly Hills 3-2. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)

DOWNEY — In a thrilling come-from-behind victory, the comeback kids at Calvary Chapel (Downey) boys volleyball team advanced to the programs first CIF-Southern Section Championship match with a 3-2 win over visiting Beverly Hills Monday (May 12).

Trailing two sets to one and their backs against the wall in the fourth set, 18-14, the Grizzlies went on a 7-2 run to take their first lead of the set, 21-20. They went on to win the set, 25-23 and came from behind again in the deciding fifth set for the match win.

In that important fourth set trailing by those four points, the Normans had two errors, followed by a kill by senior outside hitter Corey De Wit and a mishit by a Beverly Hills player to tie the set, 19-19. A net violation gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the set, 20-19, and they never looked back. A late kill by freshman middle blocker Blake Roemheld gave Calvary a set point and a service error by the Normans gave the win to the Grizzlies that evened the match at 2-2.

It looked bleak for Calvary in the fifth and deciding set as Beverly Hills jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, which included three consecutive kills.

The Grizzlies then went on their own run to not only get back into the set but take an 11-8 lead.

Highlighting the run were kills by Roemheld, senior middle Alejandro Sactic and De Wit, to trail, 7-6.

Meanwhile, senior outside hitter Jonah Heinz was in the middle of serving four times for four points, which included an ace to take a 9-7 lead.

After a kill by the Normans, De Wit tipped the ball to an empty section of the court for a 10-8 lead. Just before that kill, Heinz made a diving save on the floor.

However, Beverly Hills came all the way back to tie the set, 12-12 on a Grizzly mishit.

That’s when it could have gone awry for the Grizzlies.

With a chance to take a 13-12 lead, just two points from victory, De Wit made a booming kill to the back corner of the Normans court.

However, the officials took the point away from Calvary after a few minutes delay when it was ruled interference by a spectator just outside the boundary line.

The point was replayed, and the Normans had the serve. Making the play of the match was another booming kill by De Wit to give the Grizzlies a 13-12 lead.

That was followed by the 19th kill of the match by Roemheld when he tipped the ball straight down in the middle of the Beverly Hills side, setting up the match point.

With De Wit serving, the Normans ended their season and gave Calvary Chapel a ticket to the finals as they sent a return way out of bounds for the win for the Grizzlies.

Calvary defeated Beverly Hills 25-16, 23-25, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 to advance to the finals Saturday (May 17) against the California Academy of Math & Science (CAMS), which defeated San Jacinto Valley Academy, 3-2. CAMS is 12-12 overall this season. The match is set for 3 pm at Cerritos College.

Calvary Chapel has won CIF Championships in softball (2011) and boys basketball (2001). Boys basketball was also runners-up in 2000 and 2006.

“I’m proud of these boys and coaches and all of the work they have put it since the winter,” Calvary Chapel interim athletic director Nathan Tachin said. “It’s been a real honor and privilege just to watch these boys come back from where they came from last year and they pushed through, and they fought.

“In that fourth set they came alive and woke up.”

Leading the way for the Grizzlies was Roemheld with a team-leading 19 kills and De Wit had 14. De Wit added four assists and had 32 digs. Junior setter Luke Neff added seven kills, led with 40 assists and had 25 digs. Senior libero Stephen So had 30 digs.

“Momentarily, I’m just trying to get through it,” said Calvary Chapel Volleyball coach Jeremiah Mitte of the win. “I haven’t really let it hit me yet. I think when I actually sit down and think about it, I may shed a tear because of how stressful and how hard that it is and how much we wanted this for our own players and how much doubt there’s been that they could.

“With my team, we can’t get comfortable. As soon as we get comfortable, we start letting them push us. I don’t think my boys have survived, I think they have thrived.”

In the opening set, where there were eight ties and neither team leading by more than two points, the Grizzlies opened the set up and took control after leading, 14-13.

They finished the set with an 11-3 run, highlighted by a set-ending kill by Roemheld, to win going away, 25-16.

Four players – sophomore opposite Andrew Rubio, Roemheld, De Wit and Heinz – had two kills each for Calvary in the set.

The second set was close, as Beverly Hills held a two-point, 16-14 lead. However, the Normans went on their own 5-0 run to extend their lead to 21-14.

The Grizzlies stormed right back, outscoring Beverly Hills, 9-3, to trail by a point, 24-23.

Highlighting the run was three kills by Roemheld and a service ace by Neff. A block by Calvary went out of bounds for the win for the Normans to even the match, 1-1.

Roemheld led with six kills in the second set, while De Wit and Neff added three and two kills, respectively.

Beverly Hills then took a commanding lead in the third set, 17-8.

The next three points by the Grizzlies were kills by Rubio, Neff and Sactic, but the Normans countered with four points of their own to lead, 21-11.

The Grizzlies stormed back with another 9-3 run to trail, 24-20. Highlighting the comeback was six errors by Beverly Hills and two more kills by Roemheld and single kills by Neff and Rubio.

After a net error by Beverly Hills, Calvary committed a service error to end the set and take a 2-1 lead in the match.

That set up the must-win fourth set for Calvary.

Beverly Hills, which was heading for its third five-set marathon in its four playoff matches, seemed to be tiring.

In the quarterfinal match for Beverly Hills against YULA (Yeshiva), they trailed, 2-1 in sets and came back for the five-set win.

After leading this semifinal match, 2-1, Calvary didn’t let that happen to them with the dramatic semifinal 5-set win and a trip to its first final in program history.

In a stroke of early luck for the Grizzlies was a change of venue for the semifinal match.

Calvary was supposed to be the visiting team in the semifinals on Saturday (May 10), but due to an issue with the Beverly Hills gymnasium the site was moved to Calvary Chapel two days later.

A little luck went a long way for the comeback kids.

What they said:

Corey De Wit, senior outside hitter: “I don’t know how we did it. I’m stoked, I’m so excited. I’m so grateful. I feel like I just put everything into it.”

Stephen So, senior libero: “Just to keep playing is a dream, especially since we didn’t do it last year. I’m just so happy I get to accomplish this in my senior year.”

Alejandro Sactic, senior middle blocker: “It means a lot to go to the finals. Hopefully it will bring more attention to volleyball at school. I feel great.

We were playing scared in the fourth set and no one wanted to mess up.

For the school we haven’t been to the finals in any sport since softball in 2011. This is huge.”

Luke Neff, junior setter: “I hope we can make history on Saturday. It was crazy how many people we had at the game (Monday). Just (the fans) being here lifted our spirits and helped us come back from a dark place.

The fourth set was an exhausting set. I said a little prayer before each serve.

I’m just excited that Corey (De Wit) locked in and got that big kill late in the fourth set.

I’ve never been to or witnessed a CIF Championship at this school, so I hope that we can make history. We’ll just practice and get ready for the championship.”

Jonah Heinz, senior outside hitter: “It was amazing. Players were even crying before the game even ended. That’s how emotional it was. It’s extremely exciting. I get shivers to even think about going to the championship. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Andrew Rubio, sophomore opposite: “It’s called the Calvary curse of not getting past a certain point. I’m so glad I get to experience the wins with the seniors and fight with them.

He (Coach Mitte) is definitely a great coach and what he’s done for us. I’m very excited about the championship match.”

Blake Roemheld, freshman middle blacker: “It’s really cool. It’s amazing and I love it. It’s crazy and an amazing opportunity.

There were a couple of plays that there was no way that the ball wasn’t going over the net and then it did and just bounced over.

Corey was just amazing, who was a senior who just showed up.

This is so big for all of us. I’m just so excited. We’re for sure going to play our hardest on Saturday.”

Grizzlies rally to earn shot at championship