Huntington Beach Sweeps Redondo Union, Moves to 2-0 in CIF-SS Division 1 Pool Play (2025)

Huntington Beach – Elmer Combs Gymnasium

In the battle of two teams that were undefeated in CIF-SS Division 1 boys volleyball playoff pool play, the Huntington Beach boys volleyball swept Redondo Union 25-23, 25-23, 25-19 to move to 2-0 in pool play.

Hutnick led the Oilers with 18 kills while Choi added 13 kills and five blocks. Ben Arguello contributed 10 kills in the win.

“He’s just like an automatic kill. As long as I do my part, he’s just going to do the rest,” Choi said about Hutnick.

By beating the Seahawks for the third time this season, the Oilers have now put themselves in a position where they can clinch a spot in the CIF-SS finals before having to play their final home pool play match on Friday against Loyola. If Newport Harbor beats Loyola on the road on Wednesday, then Huntington Beach will win Pool B and advance to the finals, which is slated for Friday May 16 at 7 p.m. at Cerritos College.

Against Redondo Union, Huntington Beach were in tightly contested sets in two out of the first three sets. The first set saw the Oilers lead 20-17, but two straight points from the Seahawks forced a time out from the home team.

The two teams eventually found themselves tied at 23-23, but a kill from Ben Arguello and Justin Bulsombut gave Huntington Beach the set 25-23. The Oilers totaled four service aces in that set, with two coming form Logan Hutnick.

The second set saw Redondo Union lead 13-9, only for Huntington Beach to rattle off four straight points to tie the set at 13-13. The Oilers led 22-19, but two straight points from the Seahawks brought them to within one and forced the Oilers to call time out.

But that was as close as Redondo Union got, as Huntington Beach eventually closed out the set with a kill from Hutnick, needing only one more set to win.

“I don’t think we changed much, I just knew what we were capable of. We just stuck to the gameplan and stuck together,” Choi said on winning sets one and two in close fashion.

After set three was tied 11-11, the Oilers used a 3-0 run capped off by a service ace from Nicky Brazao to lead 14-11. The lead ballooned up to 21-15, but a Seahawks kill and a hitting error from Huntington Beach made it 21-17.

But Redondo Union couldn’t get any closer, as Huntington Beach closed out the match with a kill from Hutnick, moving it one step closer to making the finals for the first time in Division 1 since 2015 when it won its third straight championship.

“At this point in the season we’ve played each other a couple of times, so I don’t think you’re going to be surprised by anything on either side of the net. It’s just going to come down to execution,” Oilers head coach Craig Pazanti said.

The Seahawks, who was without Drew Blair due to an ankle injury, were led by Cash Essert who had 15 kills while Carter Mirabal added 11 kills. Jack Melton added eight kills.

Regardless of whether the Oilers have clinched a spot in the championship match, Pazanti and his team will still go in to the match with the mindset of they need to win.

“Our mindframe’s the same every time. We pride ourselves by playing one way, we’re going to come out and play as hard as we can,” Pazanti said.