Bishop Diego Volleyball Continues Undefeated Streak with Sweep of Laguna Blanca

The Bishop Diego boys’ volleyball team extended its impressive start to the season with a decisive straight-set victory over rival Laguna Blanca on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The Cardinals defeated the Owls 25-12, 25-16, 25-18 at the Brick House, improving their record to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Tri-Valley League play. Laguna Blanca fell to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in league competition.

Rivalry Showdown

The match between Bishop Diego and Laguna Blanca has become a highly anticipated event in recent years, despite both schools being smaller private institutions. Bishop Diego coach Dillan Bennett highlighted the significance of the rivalry, stating, “It’s our own little crosstown rivalry. We don’t have the Santa Barbara, San Marcos, Dos Pueblos deal, but as two small private schools that have had a lot of success in volleyball, it’s really cool to have that with Laguna Blanca.”

Flint Leads Cardinals to Victory

John Michael Flint spearheaded the Cardinals’ offensive attack, finishing with 11 kills and five service aces. His performance set the tone early in the first set, helping Bishop Diego quickly establish control. Flint’s ace closed out the first set 25-12.

Coach Bennett praised Flint’s leadership and development, saying, “He’s definitely our leader, emotionally, physically and volleyball wise. It has been so great to watch him evolve over the last four years. Last year he was our go-to player and the year before that he was a go-to player, but now this year the other teams know he is the go-to player. So far it doesn’t seem to matter. He still answers the bell.”

Alldredge Shines for Laguna Blanca

Despite the loss, Soren Alldredge delivered a strong performance for Laguna Blanca, leading all players with 15 kills. Laguna Blanca coach Jason Donnelly acknowledged Alldredge’s versatility, noting, “Soren is doing such a nice job playing a different position when everybody knows we are setting him the ball. When teams prepare for him and he can still play at that level it’s great.”

Set-by-Set Recap

The second set was more competitive initially, with Laguna Blanca taking an early 4-2 lead following an ace by Alldredge. However, a series of errors by the Owls allowed Bishop Diego to regain the lead. A kill by Damien Krautmann sparked a Cardinals run, extending their advantage to 11-6. Laguna Blanca responded, narrowing the gap to 12-11 after a kill and a solo block by Alldredge. Bishop Diego quickly regained control, using a Flint kill to initiate a four-point run. The Cardinals secured the set 25-16.

The third set saw both teams trading points early on, with ties at 5-5 and 8-8. Bishop Diego broke through behind Flint, whose consecutive kills extended the lead to 15-10. Laguna Blanca briefly closed the gap after a timeout, but the Cardinals maintained steady control and finished the match with a 25-18 victory after a spike by Flint off the block.

Cardinals’ Experienced Roster

Bishop Diego’s roster features 10 seniors and several returning players from last season’s successful team. The team also includes athletes who have transitioned from other sports, contributing to their overall strength and versatility.

Looking Ahead

Bishop Diego will continue its strong start on Friday against Providence. Laguna Blanca will return to action next week when it hosts Dunn.