Highland Wins as Volleyball Takes Hold in Desert Sand

PALMDALE — At Highland High--all of five years old--volleyball is the newest craze, and after the Bulldogs beat established Canyon in a Southern Section Division II playoff quarterfinal Friday night, it looks like a fad that may have some staying power.

“Volleyball in the high desert--quite a concept,” said Highland Coach Mike Bird as about 50 students and parents danced on the floor after Highland’s 7-15, 15-12, 13-15, 15-4, 15-9 victory.

“It took a while for the idea to catch on, but this is what I dreamed of when I came here,” he said.

In just the third year of fielding a varsity, Bird--who played at Cal State Northridge in the mid-1980s--has worked wonders.

Highland (17-0) has won the Golden League championship, the Redondo Beach tournament and advanced to the Division II semifinal, where it will meet Thousand Oaks on Wednesday.

“They’re a really good team,” said Canyon’s Brentt Phillips, who had a team-high 22 kills. “And they were pretty good last year.”

And two years ago?

“I don’t remember them,” he said.

Phillips and the Cowboys (15-4) likely won’t soon forget this match--their third loss to Highland this season--and probably will see Highland middle blocker Mac Wilson in their sleep.

Wilson, a 6-foot-8 senior, had 20 kills and 15 blocks and proved to be the difference in the match. He scored four of Highland’s final five points, three on blocks and one on a kill, as the Bulldogs closed the tension-filled match with a 5-0 run.

“He was phenomenal,” Bird said. “Just phenomenal.”

He wasn’t the only one. Six-seven junior Ryan Millar played an uneven match, but still finished with 30 kills and seven blocks.

Bulldog Robert Nester added 16 kills and was the team’s best passer, and Neal Scott had 17 kills.

“I can’t imagine anything sweeter than this,” Bird said.

Stay tuned.