After surviving an exhausting pair of volleyball matches against rival Rancho Bernardo during Palomar League play, La Costa Canyon's Chase Budinger expected much the same in the season finale.
What he got was much different.
Watching his teammates rise to the occasion around him, Budinger saw his final high school contest end on a high note with a 25-18, 25-17, 25-23 over the Broncos in the section Division I final last night at Cathedral Catholic High.
“We got great games out of everyone,” said Mavericks coach Mark Brubaker. “It was a truly team effort.”
Of course, that effort was paced by Budinger himself. The Arizona-bound basketball All-American showed why he is a favorite for the same honors in volleyball, tallying 26 kills, including the final downed ball of the match.
“I always want the ball at the end,” Budinger said, smiling.
But as impressive as his finish was, his start was stunning.
Unlike in past matches against Rancho Bernardo, when Budinger came on strongest in the end, the senior wasted no time making his presence known on the court for the top-seeded Mavericks (28-4).
The show began even before the first serve as fans on both sides marveled at Budinger's warm-up when he hit one ball so hard it nearly landed in the gym's upper level.
It continued into the opening game as Budinger tallied a quick nine kills off the sets of Tyler Spratt, ranging from an athletic put-back on a Broncos block attempt to a high-flying kill to the open court to a change-up from the back row.
Budinger said credit was due classmate Austin Einhorn, who played the match of his career. Einhorn drew the blockers' attention away from Budinger as he collected seven kills and a stunning seven blocks, three of them solos, and two aces.
“He played unbelievable,” Budinger said.
Added Brubaker: “To pick a game like this to come out on, he played great. He got into (Rancho Bernardo's) heads.”
The Broncos (31-7) closed the gap late in the third game, climbing as close as 24-23 on a kill by senior Kory Matsukado, but Budinger's final kills sealed LCC's third straight section title and eighth in 10 years.
“We picked a bad day to have an off match,” Rancho Bernardo coach Todd Goodwin said. “I've got to hand it to them. They played great.”
With his players celebrating nearby, Brubaker acknowledged the victory was bittersweet, considering Budinger's immediate plans include playing basketball, and not volleyball, on the collegiate level.
“It's been a ride,” Brubaker said. “It's been so much fun. He has done so much for LCC basketball and volleyball, and volleyball as a whole. We'll miss him.”
Nicole Vargas: (619) 293-1390; nicole.vargas@uniontrib.com
