Nargi’s Emotion Lifts Taft to Final

The energy Joe Nargi spent during the match--celebrating on every point he scored, seething whenever he failed to do the same--reached its end, but the Taft High opposite hitter had time for one emotion.

He cried.

Nargi, leader of the Toreadors, wept after Taft defeated Kennedy, 15-9, 7-15, 15-1, 15-7, in a City Section 4-A Division boys’ volleyball semifinal Tuesday at Taft.

Nargi had 21 kills and guaranteed second-seeded Taft (15-0) a date in the 4-A final Friday against top-seeded Palisades at Cal State Northridge. It will be the Toreadors’ first trip to the championship match since they won it in 1990.

“I’m so happy right now, I’m not even thinking,” Nargi said.

Nargi had help from outside hitter Tomer Firouzman, who had 17 kills and was playing with some emotion of his own as his father, Issac, watched him play for the first time.

“I had to play better for everyone,” Firouzman said. “I got a lift.”

The Toreadors were flawless in passing, where outside hitter Elan Yakovee excelled, and serving, where their wave of jump servers kept Kennedy off-balance.

Taft, which beat Kennedy twice during Northwest Valley Conference play, faltered only in the second game, when the third-seeded Golden Cougars (12-4) picked up eight blocks. Taft hurt itself in the second game with 10 service errors.

Kennedy, which had trouble passing all night, could not find a second option after middle blocker Jeff Toon, who was held to 10 kills. The rest of the Golden Cougars had only 13 kills.

Toon, who will join Nargi next season at Cal State Northridge, had some advice for his future teammate.

“I told him I hope they beat Palisades,” Toon said. “They just outplayed us.”

Nargi hopes to oblige.

“We’re going to win,” said Nargi, who plays club volleyball during the off-season with three members of the Palisades team. “No doubt. We have so much confidence, we’re untouchable.”