Volleyball Game Preview: Clairemont Chieftains vs. Pacific Ridge Firebirds

The Clairemont Chieftains will face off against the Pacific Ridge Firebirds at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Gabe Tocco

Attacks Kills

05/02/25 vs Francis Parker	18
04/30/25 @ Cathedral Catholic	12
04/28/25 vs Foothills Christian	7
04/25/25 vs The Cambridge School	9
04/23/25 @ St. Augustine	9
+ 26 more games

Clairemont had won four straight home games and Gabe Tocco did his part to make it five on Friday. The Chieftains came out on top in a nail-biter against Francis Parker, sneaking past 3-2 with plenty of help from Tocco, who had 18 kills and ten blocks. He is on a roll when it comes to kills, as he's now had five or more in each of the last 31 games he's played.

If you add up the scores from across all five sets (105-99) Clairemont actually scored fewer points, but in the end it didn't matter. The final score came out to 15-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 15-12.

Clairemont had a senior duo take command as Brady Semanisin had nine blocks and Makoa Miner had 19 kills and two blocks.

Meanwhile, two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only Pacific Ridge walked away with it. They were the clear victors by a 3-0 margin over the Patriots on Tuesday. The Firebirds not only won on Tuesday, but they posted their biggest win since April 22nd (when they won 3-0).

Once all was said and done, the final score wound up at 25-22, 25-22, 25-16.

The win got Pacific Ridge back to even at 18-18. As for Clairemont, they have been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four games. That's provided a nice bump to their 23-10 record this season.

Clairemont beat Pacific Ridge 2-0 in their previous matchup back in March. Will the Chieftains repeat their success, or do the Firebirds have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.