Christian wins Division 4 boys championship

By Ramon Scott
Updated: May 16, 2026

2026 San Diego CIF Division 4 champion Christian Patriots

2026 EAST COUNTY PREP BOYS VOLLEYBALL

EastCountySports.com

Christian High’s long climb to the top of San Diego Section boys volleyball finally reached its peak Thursday night, but not before the Patriots had to survive one final push from the top-seeded team in the bracket.

After building a two-set lead and watching it disappear, Christian regrouped in a dramatic fifth set and outlasted No. 1 seed Tri-City Christian, 25-18, 25-21, 15-25, 22-25, 16-14, to capture the CIF San Diego Section Division 4 championship at Logan Memorial Education Campus.

The title marks the first section championship in program history for the Patriots, who finished the season 26-7 and delivered another championship moment for a Christian athletic department that has stacked postseason success throughout the school year.

The Patriots looked poised for a sweep early after controlling the opening two sets behind aggressive net play, strong serving pressure and a defense that consistently disrupted Tri-City Christian’s attack lanes. Christian repeatedly turned long rallies into momentum swings, with Hudson McFarlane, David Griffin and versatile setter Brody Schendel helping dictate the pace.

Christian’s blocking became the defining theme of the night. The Patriots consistently closed off angles at the net and forced Tri-City Christian hitters into uncomfortable swings, piling up 10 total team blocks in the championship match.

The Eagles, however, refused to fold.

Led by the Salas brothers, Tri-City Christian stormed back into the match by increasing its tempo through the middle and taking advantage of extended rallies in the third and fourth sets. Roddick Salas powered the Eagles offense with 14 kills, while brothers Banning and freshman D-Dos Salas each added 12 more as the top seed clawed back from the brink and forced a winner-take-all fifth set.

Momentum appeared to shift fully toward the Eagles midway through the match, but Christian answered in the deciding frame with the same resilience that carried the Patriots through the postseason.

McFarlane delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a solo block that helped Christian turn a tight set into a late 13-9 advantage. Even then, Tri-City Christian rallied again, erasing the deficit and tying the score at 14-14 to put the championship on edge.

That is when the Patriots produced their defining sequence.

Christian regained control behind a clutch kill from McFarlane before Griffin delivered the match-ending attack that sent the Patriots pouring onto the court in celebration as the Division 4 championship was secured.

Schendel’s all-around impact played a major role throughout the night. The Patriots setter not only directed the offense but contributed timely blocks, defensive hustle plays and critical momentum-changing touches that repeatedly energized Christian during key stretches.

Christian head coach Levi Gundert, himself part of championship teams during his playing days at the school in the late 1990s, guided the Patriots through the emotional swings of the final while emphasizing preparation and defensive discipline. Christian’s ability to read Tri-City Christian’s tendencies at the net ultimately helped the Patriots survive one of the most dramatic matches of the section playoffs.

The championship capped an impressive postseason run for Christian, which proved capable of winning in multiple ways throughout the playoffs — whether through offensive bursts, defensive grit or composure under pressure.

Thursday night required all three.