WESTLAKE VILLAGE >> “De-Von. De-Von. De-Von.”
The Westlake High School volleyball players gathered around teammate Devon Johnson and began chanting his name excitedly.
They tried to hoist the 6-foot-6 sophomore into the air the best they could, creating a folk hero from the unlikeliest of sources on Tuesday night.
“I was speechless; I was not used to that,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t believe what was happening. I wasn’t expecting to be in this position tonight.”
It appeared ominous when leading hitter Tyler Robinson tore ligaments in his thumb playing pepper a few hours before the match and is likely lost for the rest of the season. Yet Johnson delivered a prolific performance to power Westlake to a 25-17, 26-24, 25-18 victory over Irvine to open the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs.
VIDEO: Watch Devon Johnson tool the block and give Westlake the lead for good in the third set
“Right before the game, I was brutally honest with him,” Westlake’s Everett Schuett said. “I told him we need you to step up. We needed him to be the big man.
“We were able to crush them in three because of Devon.”
Johnson was unstoppable, getting nine kills, five aces, four blocks and four digs.
Not bad for a spot starter.
“I don’t know why we were hoisting him up; Devon usually always plays that well,” said Westlake’s Troy Magorien, the son of coach Doug Magorien. “Devon usually plays well in big matches. His practices are a little shaky, but he usually gives the other team a run for their money.”
Though Johnson was the feel-good story, Westlake did take advantage of its balanced and deep squad.
Magorien led Westlake with 12 kills and three digs. Schuett had six kills and seven blocks. Dale MacLean had five kills.
Blake Crisp had 33 assists, two kills and five digs and Alex Faille had eight digs.
“Our approach was to stay consistent,” Schuett said. “We didn’t need to do anything too flashy or special. Just solid passing and take some solid swings and put pressure on them,”
Westlake advances to face the Santa Margarita-San Clemente winner in Thursday’s second round.
Westlake controlled the first set then rallied in the second set while fending off a set point.
“We’re on the right track,” Magorien said. “The way we played in the first set and how we came back in the second set, it shows we’re ready to play some top teams.”
