Winning one state title is hard, but winning back-to-back crowns is even tougher, something Central Catholic boys volleyball felt to start the 2026 season.
The Rams, who won the unsanctioned 6A crown last year, are looking to grab the first OSAA-sanctioned state title in 6A/5A this season, but started out in a tough way.
Central Catholic competed in the First Point National High School Invitational in Austin, Texas to begin the season, but dropped all three of its pool play matches.
However, the Rams haven’t lost since and are sitting at 11-0 officially and 6-0 in Special District 1 play.
“They’re coming from club where they’re coming from different positions,” Central Catholic head coach Sharlene Alagar said. “A lot of those positions are six rotations positions, so they don’t get to just come off to the sideline and rest. … There’s some new things that they have to relearn.”
The Rams were able to relearn quickly in Texas, taking out Regis Groff (CO) and Carlmont (CA) in straight sets, then Arizona College Prep (AZ) 2-1 to win their bracket.
“Those were our first three matches of the whole season, right out the gate,” Alagar said of pool play and the tournament as a whole. “When we came back the next day, they were focused and like, ‘Those were all our errors, we got this.’ … They realized, ‘We know how to play volleyball, we know how to play the game.’ They just needed to be humbled, so I’m glad they had that experience and didn’t like that experience of losing.”
Since returning, the Rams have through league by sweeping Parkrose, Hood River Valley, David Douglas, Reynolds and Gresham.
League foe La Salle Prep has put up a fight, taking a set off the Rams in the South Salem Boys Volleyball Invite and taking another in their league match, but CC still came out on top 2-1 and 3-1 in both matches.
“We had a great showing at the South Salem tournament,” Alagar said. “Something I always have to remind my players is part of our value system is that we’re always in the relentless pursuit of greatness. There’s a lot of good teams out there, there’s a lot of good talent and good players out there. How do you elevate your game to be great and not just fall into the good.”
One of those elevating literally and figuratively is senior Dwight Nguyen, one of two captains along with senior Henry Ruginis.
Nguyen is the opposite right-side hitter for the Rams who plays all around and is the leader in kills while being one of the top servers as well.
“He’s just been a phenomenal opposite hitter,” Alagar said of Nguyen. “He’s a lefty so he’s hard to read. He can control the ball and go any direction he wants. He gets the most kills out of all my pin hitters and he can bounce it really well. He’s highly intelligent and one of the few who can do a great topspin serve.”
On the left side is senior Taj Dhruva who provides the biggest amount of power of any Rams attacker.
Despite being under 6-feet tall, Dhruva can get up with his vertical and seems to float once he’s swinging above the net.
“His vertical is insane, if you get a still shot of him while he’s in the air hitting, you’ll see his feet are at the bottom of the tape,” Alagar said. “He freezes in the air for a minute and you’re like, ‘Is that a Jordan pose?’”
Senior Luke Fazio is another hitter for the Rams who Alagar said has come into his own and become an important leader to help reset the team when mistakes are happening. He quickly gets out of his head and gets the rest of the crew out of it as well.
Sophomore Carson Posner is the libero who Alagar said is like a ninja in the back where he can constantly get to difficult balls. More importantly, his communication up to the front is already well done for a younger player who’s looking to play at the next level.
Junior Shawn Paul is the setter running a 5-1 offense, so he’s constantly in the game setting up the offense and he does it well.
“(Paul) gives it his all and he’s just happy to be there and loves volleyball,” Alagar said. “He creates and he has great hands.”
Ruginis is a middle and plays way above his height, a theme for the Rams who only have one player above that 6-feet threshold.
The student body president at Central Catholic, Ruginis provides the spark of energy from either getting a big block at the net or just being his fiery self.
“He’s just got that fire in him,” Alagar said. “He came in from other sports, he was never a volleyball player. He was a football player, a basketball player and decided to try volleyball as a sophomore. Loved it and has stayed with it.”
The path in league continues next week when the Rams play at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 at Barlow, followed by a 6:30 start Thursday, April 23 against Parkrose.
The goal is once again to take home the state title, even though Alagar doesn’t talk about it with the team during the season.
But come tournament time, Central Catholic knows what its goal is, and it’ll be about sticking to its foundations when the lights shine the brightest.
“To get the first championship was already a challenge and we had to push ourselves,” Alagar said. “To go back-to-back, nobody is going to hand that to you, you have to earn that.
“You have to start here first, it's a long journey before we get to the end of that road, so we have to focus on the now.”
More boys volleyball notes
Westside Christian is ranked No. 1 at 4A/3A/2A/1A with a perfect 8-0 record and a 1-0 start to Special District 2 play. The Eagles own a 24-5 set advantage, going the distance just once with Portland Adventist Academy. … Speaking of PAA, the Cougars are locked in league battle with Damascus Christian with both squads sitting at 4-1 in Special District 1. The Cougars lost in five to Molalla while the Eagles lost in four to Estacada. The two will meet up for the league lead at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 at PAA. … Cascade (7-2, 6-0 SD3) and Junction City (6-2, 6-1 SD4) are the two other league leaders in 4A/3A/2A/1A and are ranked No. 2 and 4 in the OSAA rankings, respectively. … South Salem, Sherwood and Silverton are the next highest rated teams in 6A trying to challenge Central Catholic. The Saxons, ranked No. 4, lost in two sets to the Rams in the final of their home tournament and sit at 8-1 overall and 7-0 in SD3, which includes a four-set win over Silverton. The Foxes are 9-1 overall, 7-1 in league and are ranked No. 2. Sherwood is 7-1 overall and 6-0 in SD2, the one loss being a 2-1 defeat to Silverton.
austinw@osaa.org
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