VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK: GRANADA HILLS GETS THE POINT TIGHT TIEBREAKER GIVES HIGHLANDERS TOP SEED.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

In the end, it came down to one measly point.

That's what separated Granada Hills and Chatsworth highs in the West Valley League tiebreak system to decide the league boys' volleyball champion, and that's what will send Granada Hills (9-1) into the City Championship playoffs as the No. 1 seed, while the three-time defending champion Chancellors (9-1) go in as the No. 2 seed.

The teams split their two league matches - head-to-head is the first criteria for breaking a tie - with each team winning in four games.

With the first two tiebreakers a push, it came down to total points in head-to-head matchups. Granada Hills had 185 to Chatsworth's 184.

``It doesn't get much closer than that,'' Chatsworth coach Greg Saltzberg said.

Not that Saltzberg is upset. The Chancellors returned one player from last year's title-winning team - outside hitter Robert Pate - so, in many ways, they've already surpassed expectations.

Now that the playoffs are here, Chatsworth thinks it has just as good a shot as anyone.

``We split with the top team in the City, and only one point denied us the top seed,'' Saltzberg said. ``We're happy right now. But we don't want it to end here.''

For the second year, the playoffs open with a 32-team field to determine the 16 teams for the City Championship Division. Winners in Thursday's first-round games will form the 16-team Championship Division, and the losing teams will be relegated to a second 16-team tournament.

Granada Hills opens Thursday at home against Locke of Los Angeles. Chatsworth plays host to 31st-seeded Canoga Park.

Grant, the Sunset Six League champion, is seeded third and opens against 30th-seeded Franklin, and Taft of Woodland Hills was seeded fourth and plays Garfield in the first round.

The finals are May 13 at Cal State Northridge.

--View from the top: Had Viewpoint of Calabasas fallen behind by 10 points in any first game last season, chances are the Patriots would have caved in and lost the match.

Not this season.

When Viewpoint started slowly against Pasadena Poly, there was no panic. Instead, the Patriots turned it up a notch and pulled out a victory.

Winning is something Viewpoint has done a lot of this year. By beating Grant of Van Nuys 25-21, 25-14 in the championship match of the Viewpoint tournament last weekend, the Patriots stretched their record to 22-0.

``As far as confidence goes, it's like night and day this year,'' senior outside hitter Robbie Silverman said. ``Last year, we would have folded in a match like (the one against Pasadena Poly). But not this year.''

Silverman is a big reason, stepping up as a player and leader in his senior year. Matt Talamantes, Alex Robertson and he have guided the Patriots to the brink of a perfect season, one they hope ends with the Southern Section Div. V championship.

``It's something we really want and something we feel we can do,'' Silverman said. ``It's been a great season so far, but we're not finished. We want that championship.''

--Production: La Canada outside hitter Mike Gaudino has been a hitting machine this year. He has 323 kills in 45 games (7.2 per game) for the Spartans (7-4, 3-2 Rio Hondo). In his past three matches, Gaudino has 43 kills against Temple City (April 14), 29 against Gabrielino of San Gabriel (April 19) and 41 against South Pasadena (Thursday), all La Canada victories. His season and career high was 44 against Arcadia in a five-game loss March 23. He also had 36 kills in a five-game victory over Flintridge Prep of La Canada Flintridge on March 8.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com

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