Boys’ volleyball: Valencia named unofficial national champions

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Valencia (35-2) started out the season as the top-ranked team in the nation, and it looks as if the Vikings are going to go out on top, too.

StudentSportsVolleyball.com has declared the Southern Section-Toyota Division II champions as the unofficial national champions, beating out Division I champions Mira Costa (32-5), which was ranked third in the nation. I realize these rankings hold a only a certain amount of debatable weight, but it’s still an honor for the Vikings, who have won four divisional titles in the last six years.

Still, even though I can’t think of a team more worthy of this honor, I realize some people might not agree. The Vikings beat Mira Costa this season, but the Mustangs beat Newport Harbor for the title -- and the Sailors beat Valencia in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions in April. So, I suppose an argument could be made in support of Mira Costa being the top-ranked team.

But what do you think? Is Valencia the deserving unofficial national champion, or was Mira Costa the best team of 2008? Do you think the CIF should have a state championship for boys’ volleyball, like it does for girls? Come on people, I want your thoughts.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image by Lori Shepler/L.A. Times