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NORWALK — Hart boys volleyball continues to make history. After winning its first league title in 30 years, the program won its first CIF Southern Section title Saturday by sweeping El Dorado in the Division 4 championship at Cerritos College.
“That was my dream,” senior Owen Douphner said. “That was my goal coming into Hart, was to have something on the wall to remember myself, my teammates and classmates.”
Isaac Kim, right, of Hart High School hugs a teammate after beating El Dorado High School in the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Douphner, center, of Hart High School hits the ball past Adam Cralley, left, and Ryan Chia, right, of El Dorado High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Max Smith, right, of El Dorado High School attempts to get the ball past Hank Kaufman of Hart High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Keaton Raymond of El Dorado High School hits the ball past Tanner Andrew of Hart High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Douphner, center, holds the championship plaque as his teammates from Hart High School look on after beating El Dorado High School in the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Team members of Hart High School celebrate after beating El Dorado High School in the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Team members of Hart High School celebrate after beating El Dorado High School in the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Douphner of Hart High School goes up to block a shot by Keaton Raymond of El Dorado High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oliver Toth of El Dorado High School sets the ball after a serve by Hart High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As teammate Dillon Overbeck, left, looks on, Keaton Raymond, right, of El Dorado High School sets the ball during a serve from Hart High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ryan Chia, left, and Kaiden Gerard of El Dorado High School attempt to block a shot by Hart High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans from Hart High School cheer during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final against El Dorado High School at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Douphner of Hart High School hits the ball past the arms of Max Smith, left, Kaiden Gerard, center and Ryan Chia, right, of El Dorado High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans from El Dorado High School cheer during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final against Hart High School at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Owen Douphner, left, of Hart High School hits the ball over the hands of Dillon Chaffin, center, and Adam Cralley, right, of El Dorado High School during the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Hart won the match. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Oliver Toth, left, of El Dorado High School consoles teammate Dillon Overbeck after losing to Hart High School in the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Team members of El Dorado High School stand with their Runner-Up plaque after losing to Hart High School in the CIF-SS Division 4 boys volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hart (32-15) relied on its mental toughness to stay consistent through three sets that resulted in set scores of 25-16, 25-21, 25-22.
Douphner led Hart with a team-high 24 kills while adding 14 digs and five aces. Hank Kaufman had 13 kills and Isaac Kim had a team-high 16 digs.
Hart jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and maintained an advantage of roughly 10 points for the duration of the set. Douphner got through a block to give Hart a win to start the match.
El Dorado (19-15) switched up the position of its outside hitters ahead of the championship game, altering some of the game plan the Hart coaching staff had developed based on their scouting. El Dorado set the tone in the second set by scoring on a Max Smith kill and kept the set close.
“We have the second-set blues on this team sometimes where we’re just too calm and the urgency isn’t there,” coach Loy Mueller said. “And that’s kind of what happened.”
Tanner Andrew set Douphner for a kill that brought the score to 20-17 and strong serving kept Hart ahead for the remainder of the set. Andrew once again set Douphner for the set-winning kill.
“Be consistent with it,” Douphner said. “Don’t rip the first ball necessarily, but have a good tempo and keep increasing the intensity.”
The third set was close as well with both teams going point-for-point with each other. Douphner served an ace for a 17-14 lead, but the Golden Hawks grinded their way back to tie it at 18-18 when a Hart hit went long.
Hart had two set point opportunities before finally breaking through on their third opportunity. An El Dorado serve went into the net to give Hart the CIF-SS championship win in front of their fans who made the trip from Newhall.
Cheerleaders, classmates and of course parents packed the stands Saturday to give the team a robust cheering section that overflowed bleachers, something Hart hadn’t experienced regularly until this season.
“I think these boys have really made a name for the program,” Mueller, a Hart alumnus, said. “When I played we were always second-best. This group, they turned the conversation around of teams not being excited to play Hart but teams being afraid to play Hart.”
The historic playoff run continues for Hart with the CIF SoCal Regional championships, which begin Tuesday and culminate with championships game Saturday, May 20.
“We don’t have time like we had this entire week to prep,” Mueller said. “We have one day to come into the gym on a hot Monday, go over a scouting report and focus on in-game adjustments.”
