Sarferaz, Rose among best in boys volley

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 25, 2024

Mustafa Sarferaz of El Cajon Valley / Photo by Nick Pellegrino

2024 EAST COUNTY BOYS VOLLEYBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

Mustafa Sarferaz of El Cajon Valley

EL CAJON – A pair of school not known for being overly explosive on offense have turned the tables this spring.

In a meeting of two rising standouts in the East County, El Cajon Valley spiker Mustafa Sarferaz and John Rose battled in Friday’s (Mar. 22) non-league match.

However, the expected one-o-one showdown was averted when the vestile Sarferaz failed to don the red uniform of the Braves, instead wearing the Livero write to display his ball-cpntrol skills as a top-notch passer.

An under-sized spiker at jst 5-foot-10, the back row figyres to be Sarferaz’s future college position, with several schools looking to recruit him.

Rose, a 6-goot-7 middle nlocker, came through with double digit totals in killa and blocks, but the Braves rallied with a 25-21 victory in the fourth set to tame the Lions, Game scorted were 15-18, 15-19, 19-25, 25-21. 3-1.

Upcoming Bug Matches: Apr. 1o, Helix at ECVHS; Apr. 17, Helix at Granite Hills; Apr. 22, Granite Hills at ECVHS (All at 6:30 p.m.)

ECVHS is offto a 15-6 start, while 2-2 in the Grossmong Hills League, behing only defending CIF titlist Granite Hills (4-0) — led by outside hitter Lathan Fry — and Helix (2-1).

Liberty Charter 7-8) is the early co-leader in the Summit League. The Lions, a CIF Division 2 school, already owns win over West Hills (in a fifth-set tiebreaker), El Capitan and Christian.

Inside the Braves

Unlike many schools inside the Grossmont Conference, El Cajon Valley is more than a single-standout ballclub.

Along with Sarferaz, the Braves are quite balanced thanks to a pair of solid performers, according to head coach Joshua Gonzales, The list includes team caotain Kaden Porter,, the son of assistant coach Danielle Trujillo, and a hybrid setter in sophomore Sayed Hashimi.

Gonzalez on Sarferaz:

Mustafa, the top libero in the county turned to a threat on the outside. The combination of his great passing abilities and crafty hitting, make him a nuisance on the court. Mustafa is a quick learner, and plays his heart out every match.
Mustafa Sarferaz is determined to win the league and excel in the playoffs while maintaining good academic grades. Mustafa recognizes his weaknesses in consistency and timing, with a focus on improving his technique and synchronization with sets and hitting. Mustafa has developed a strong mentality over the years of playing volleyball. He doesn’t let mistakes affect him mentally and is always willing to work hard to win.

Mustafa believes that his effort directly contributes to his improvement as a player, and his competitive nature drives him to give his best effort to win. Mustafa looks up to his father, who he believes is the best coach he has. He learns from all his father’s struggles and mistakes,
appreciating the constant push for improvement and the encouragement to accomplish great things. Outside of volleyball, Mustafa enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Sarferaz is actively involved in Adventure club, after-school tutoring, and serves as a bilingual assistant for one of his teachers. Mustafa has also participated in soccer and volleyball during high school. Mustafa’s goal is to enroll at UCSD for Volleyball and pursue a major in civil engineering.

Kaden Porter

Gonzalez on Porter:

Kaden, a junior, is a true captain on the court. As the lead pin- hitter with the most kills on the team, Porter rises up to become the go-to player for a quick sideout point. Porter shows great skills in supporting his teammates and staying calm under pressure.

Kaden Porter has set some short-term goals for himself by the end of the season. Kaden aims to improve his top spin and consistency in hitting, as well as enhance his power, accuracy, and passing skills during serve receive. Kaden acknowledges his weaknesses in serve receive and blocking, which he plans to improve through practice, studying collegiate-level blockers, and enhancing his timing and reading abilities.

Despite these areas of improvement, Kaden’s strengths lie in his competitive nature, coachability, and experience in competitive volleyball settings. He looks up to Ethan Champlain as a national player whose play style he wishes to adopt. Outside of sports, Kaden enjoys spending time with family, fishing, playing video games, and board games.

During high school, he played club volleyball for Coast and also represented his school in volleyball. Kaden has dream schools in mind, including Hawaii, Long Beach, and UCLA, where he would like to play volleyball. He plans to pursue a degree in Business Management.

Gonzalez on Hashimi:

“Sayed, a sophomore, has made a significant impact on the team as a hybrid setter and opposite hitter on the court. His strong blocking makes him a formidable force at the net. While he still has much to learn as a setter, Sayed has quickly picked up the skill and is showing significant growth in this area.

By the end of the season, Sayed aims to achieve a higher hitting percentage and deliver more precise sets as a setter in volleyball to elevate his contribution to the team’s performance. One aspect Sayed is focused on is maintaining composure during critical moments in volleyball matches. He is addressing this by practicing relaxation techniques, seeking advice from experienced players, and visualizing successful plays under pressure.

In volleyball, Hashimi’s strengths lie in his agility on the court, his ability to anticipate opponents’ moves, and his effective communication with teammates during games. Sayed Hashimi looks up to Kobe Bryant for his unmatched work ethic, his relentless pursuit of excellence, and his ability to lead by example both on and off the basketball court. He hopes to achieve what Kobe did in the near future. Apart from volleyball, Sayed enjoys activities like beach volleyball, watching sports matches, and hanging out with friends to create good memories.

uring high school, Sayed participated in the RMTL program at UCSD, a medical bio program where he gained valuable skills in biology and medical sciences. Additionally, he was actively involved in various clubs, such as the debate club and environmental club, which broadened his interests and skill set beyond the life of sports Sayed Hashimi plans to attend UCSD for volleyball and continue his education in Aerospace
Engineering.