Sea Kings’ Ctvrtlik reigns atop boys’ volleyball Dream Team
As a setter for Corona del Mar High for four seasons, Matt Ctvrtlik’s primary job was to pass the ball. If there was one more pass for him to make, Coach Steve Conti would want Ctvrtlik to pass the torch to someone else in his family.
For eight straight years, a Ctvrtlik has played volleyball at CdM. The last to do it in the family was Matt Ctvrtlik, who became the first in his family to earn the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year award in boys’ volleyball.
The Ctvrtlik name is one that is unforgettable, and not because it can be hard to say Ctvrtlik (pronounced stuh-VERT-lick), but because of how the youngest Ctvrtlik performed on and off the court. He learned how to from his older brothers, Josef and Erik, who excelled in volleyball and in the classroom.
Matt is the tallest, smartest and best player out of the trio, but he is thankful that he grew up watching Josef and Erik. They each played a part in his development.
Josef was the first brother to attend CdM, playing for the Sea Kings in 2009. A year later came Erik, and in 2013, it was Matt’s turn. Josef and Erik played together one year on varsity, as did Erik and Matt.
While each Ctvrtlik contributed to CdM reaching the CIF Southern Section finals — Josef twice, Erik once and Matt twice – what stands out the most to Matt was how he and his brothers competed outside the gym. There is one thing to produce an ace in a volleyball match at CdM and another to ace all of your classes at CdM.
Josef and Erik came close to earning all A’s while in high school, but Matt is the only member in his family to pull it off.
Matt is humble, not one to talk too much about his grades. However, on June 23, on the date of his graduation, Matt could brag a little to his brothers.
Josef and Erik came home from college, just in time to see Matt walk across the stage. Matt graduated with honors, and the biggest to him is being the first straight-A student in his family.
“They both got one B each in high school,” Matt said of Josef and Erik. “I beat them.”
Matt Ctvrtlik beat many in high school. The Harvard-bound setter quarterbacked CdM to tons of success during his four years: four undefeated Pacific Coast League titles, two CIF Southern Section Division 1 runner-up finishes, two CIF Southern California Regional Division II championships and a CIF SoCal Regional Division I runner-up finish.
The only prize that eluded the 6-foot-5 Ctvrtlik was a section crown. He played in three section finals, the first with the CdM basketball team as a junior, the same season he took home the Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year award in basketball. His second and third trips came in his final two years with the volleyball team.
“Going 0-3 sucks, but, you know, they were all close,” said Ctvrtlik, who played well in those three section final losses.
His CdM basketball coach, Ryan Schachter, nicknamed Ctvrtlik “Matty Ice” because he was cool under pressure. What Conti, his CdM volleyball coach, cherished the most about Ctvrtlik was his will to win. He first learned about it when Ctvrtlik was a seventh-grader at CdM Middle School, where Conti teaches physical education.
Every year, the middle school students challenge Conti to a game of ping-pong. There is a short list of kids who have beat Conti, and Ctvrtlik was only one of two to do so five years ago.
“I’m still waiting [for a rematch]. I’m getting worse at everything and he’s probably still getting better at everything in his life,” Conti said with a laugh, before turning serious when asked about Ctvrtlik’s talents on the volleyball court. “Skill-wise, ability-wise, and as far as having competitive greatness, I think he’s right up there with any guy who has come through our program.”
Ctvrtlik leaves CdM as one of the top players to play for Conti during his 21 years at the helm of the Sea Kings. Ctvrtlik, who totaled 818 assists, 42 kills, 28 blocks, 68 digs and 19 service aces, earned the Orange County Player of the Year award, along with All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 and first-team All-Pacific Coast League accolades. He also started in the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County High School Volleyball All-Star Match for seniors at Newport Harbor High.
The site of the OC All-Star event, his final contest representing CdM, brought back many memories for Ctvrtlik, a two-time All-CIF selection. The Battle of the Bay between rivals CdM and Newport Harbor was always his favorite.
The one Ctvrtlik will never forget might surprise many because of the result.
“The weird thing is the Battle of the Bay that I remember the most was the one I lost my freshman year [in five sets at CdM], but I got to play that whole season with my brother, Erik, who was a senior captain,” Ctvrtlik said. “That year [with Erik] was probably one of my most fun years of volleyball that I’ve had. Playing with my brother in such an atmosphere like [the Battle of the Bay], you don’t get that at home, so I think being able to see both of our inner [competitiveness] come out, and we both have the same mindset [because] we grew up the same way; it was just really cool to [experience] that together.”
At the end of that season three years ago, Erik, a libero, went on to share the Pacific Coast League MVP award. The year before that, Josef, a setter, split the league’s top honor. Both also made the Dream Team in their respective senior year.
The only Ctvrtlik to appear on the Dream Team more than once was Matt. He made it three times.
With the Ctvrtlik family line to CdM over with, Matt wondered what his parents, Bob and Cosette, would do during the next CdM volleyball season. He wasn’t concerned about his father. Bob has experienced enough volleyball, winning on practically every level, an NCAA title with Pepperdine in 1985 and an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. in 1988.
“It’s my mom I’m worried about,” Matt Ctvrtlik said. “I think she’ll have to find a new hobby.”
•The rest of the Dream Team follows:
Sam Kobrine
OH | Corona del Mar
The senior outside hitter turned into the Sea Kings’ top threat. The 6-foot-3 Kobrine led CdM to a second straight CIF Southern Section Division 1 final appearance and a third straight CIF Southern California Regional final appearance. Kobrine totaled 365 kills, 37 blocks, 75 digs and 29 aces, earning him All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 and first-team All-Orange County laurels, the Pacific Coast League MVP award, and a spot in the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County High School All-Star Match. Kobrine, the Dream Team Player of the Year in basketball this season, is bound for UCLA to play volleyball. Kobrine is a two-time Dream Team selection.
Will Hunter
MB | Corona del Mar
The senior middle blocker held things together for the Sea Kings early in the season with Matt Ctvrtlik out with an ankle injury. In March, Hunter led CdM to the Orange County Championships Division 1 title, earning the tournament MVP honor after the Sea Kings had lost in the tournament final three times in the past four years. The 6-foot-3 Hunter, who finished with 281 kills, 51 blocks and 31 aces, made All-CIF Southern Section Division 1, the All-Orange County and All-Pacific Coast first teams, and played in the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County High School All-Star Match. Hunter is a two-time Dream Team selection.
Cole Pender
OH | Newport Harbor
The sophomore outside hitter helped the Sailors end the sport’s most dominant high school run in the country, winning at Huntington Beach to halt the Oilers’ 121-match winning streak. Pender’s all-around performance in the contest — 15 kills, 10 digs, six aces and one block — allowed Newport Harbor to split the Sunset League championship with the Oilers, marking the Sailors’ first league crown in five years. The 6-foot-3 Pender shared the Sunset League MVP award and made the All-Orange County second team after totaling 356 kills, 33 blocks, 63 digs and 55 aces. Pender is a two-time Dream Team selection.
Mason Tufuga
OPP | Costa Mesa
The senior opposite lifted the Mustangs to their first CIF Southern Section playoff win in seven years, coming in a Division 2 first-round sweep of El Modena at home. Tufuga, a future Stanford player, was nearly unstoppable, even though Costa Mesa went to the lefty almost every time. The 6-foot-6 Tufuga hit .488, produced 291 kills, 75 assists, 59 blocks, 55 aces and 72 digs, garnering the Orange Coast League MVP award and third-team All-Orange County honors. He participated in the Dave Mohs Memorial Orange County High School All-Star Match. Tufuga is a two-time Dream Team selection.
Carlos Rivera
S | Newport Harbor
The senior setter provided leadership and experience for the young and talented Sailors, who featured six underclassmen, pushing Newport Harbor to its first Sunset League championship since 2011. The addition of Rivera, a 6-foot-3 transfer from Marina, resulted in Newport Harbor winning 10 more matches than in Coach Rocky Ciarelli’s debut season in charge of the Sailors in 2015. The Sailors, who went 22-8, matched their win total from the previous two years. Rivera, a member of the All-Sunset League first team and All-Orange County third team, amassed 761 assists, 53 kills, 58 blocks, 37 digs and 37 aces.
Mitch Haly
MB | Corona del Mar
The junior middle blocker motivated the Sea Kings as their vocal leader and set the tone in practice with his work ethic. Haly didn’t allow CdM to let up in the Pacific Coast League, as the Sea Kings swept every league opponent. The Sea Kings finished as undefeated league champions for a 10th straight year and they extended their winning streak in league to 96 matches. Haly was a first-team All-Pacific Coast League pick and earned honorable mention for All-Orange County laurels. He produced 186 kills and 54 blocks. The 6-foot-6 Haly is one of four key contributors coming back to CdM next year.
Landon Monroe
L | Newport Harbor
The junior could play any position on the court at a high level for the Sailors and he’s the libero on the Dream Team. Monroe’s versatility gave Newport Harbor more weapons. He mostly played opposite and setter, the second position more so at the beginning of the season when the Sailors ran a 6-2 and reached the Best of the West Invitational final. Monroe made the All-Sunset League first team after recording 159 kills, 205 assists, 37 blocks, 35 digs and 23 aces. Monroe is one of 11 Sailors expected back from a team that won 22 matches for the first time in four years.
