By Pete Borello

Los Altos High’s Julia Chaves digs a ball in practice. The senior put her digging skills to good use Thursday, denying a kill attempt by Homestead that helped the Eagles win the decisive game of the league match. Town Crier file photo

The question swirled around the Los Altos High girls volleyball team soon after it beat Homestead Thursday to clinch a share of the SCVAL De Anza Division championship. Just how long had it been since the Eagles last won the league?

First-year coach Christine Matteucci wasn’t sure, though she thought it was around the beginning of the decade. Athletic director Kim Cave - also in her first year on the job - had no idea, nor did predecessor Monica Lodge. The answer arrived only after Cave scanned the championship banners adorning the Los Altos High gym. There it was: 1993.

Although the Eagles will have to share the title with Palo Alto, which also went 9-3 in division play, they will gladly take it.

“It’s been a great year,” said Matteucci, whose players were either toddlers or preschoolers when Los Altos previously captured the league crown. “I’m really happy with the results and the improvement I’ve seen.”

The Eagles (19-12 overall) won’t be content with just winning the league, however. They want to advance in the upcoming Central Coast Section playoffs.

“These girls have been waiting for CCS,” Matteucci said. “They know what it means, they know the competition and what it takes to get there. CCS will be a battle and it’s going to be tough, but there’s a reason why we made it. The girls want to prove we deserve to be there.”

Their first chance to do so comes tonight. Seeded eighth in the Division II playoffs, Los Altos hosts No. 9 Westmont (23-10). First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“I’m happy with our seed and that we’re playing at home,” Matteucci said.

The coach is confident the Eagles, who last year failed to get past the opening round of CCS for the first time since 1997, are up for the challenge this time around.

“They’ve improved so much over the season,” she said. “These girls understand the meaning of working hard for a goal and what it takes - the attitude and mindset they need.”

Los Altos is coming off a match that resembled the intensity of the playoffs. The Eagles needed five games to fend off visiting Homestead, prevailing 27-25, 15-25, 26-24, 23-25, 15-10.

“Nothing was easy (Thursday),” Matteucci said. “Both teams played crazy defense. It was a battle.”

Los Altos overcame 36 kills by Homestead outside hitter Kat Fischer, a star sophomore who lives in Los Altos. Matteucci cited Julia Chaves’ dig of a ferocious Fischer shot in the fifth game as a defining play in the match.

“She flew in the air to dig it, and the ball went over the net and all the way to backline,” the coach said. “We rallied out and got the point.”

Christan Schaefer led the Eagles with 24 kills; fellow senior outside hitter Emily Saliba added 12 kills and three aces.

“Christan had a good night, and Emily had a great night,” Matteucci said. “(Emily) had so many digs - we didn’t keep track, but it must have been 15 to 17.”

The coach also praised setter Erin Saliba, Emily’s twin sister, who recorded 45 assists and six kills.

Spartan surprise: CCS

“Our out-of-league record was good enough to try for an at-large bid and our points were high enough that we made it in,” said coach Gerrie Phillips, whose squad went 12-20 overall.

Mountain View plays at No. 7 Woodside (25-7) at 7 p.m. today.

Lofty seed for Mustangs

The Mustangs earned the third seed in Division I - which comprises the most-populated schools in the section - and won’t have to face powerhouses like Mitty, Presentation and St. Francis, who are in Division II.

Lancers seeded third

The Lancers (31-5) have a bye in the first round and won’t play until 11 a.m. Saturday at Leland. They will face either No. 6 Leland (26-7) or No. 11 Sequoia (12-14).

Panthers shock King’s

Pinewood (10-14 overall) is seeded eighth in CCS Division V. The Panthers play No. 9 Calvary Chapel (12-14) at 7 p.m. today at Pajaro Valley in Watsonville.

Pinewood is coming off perhaps its biggest win of the season. The Panthers improved to 7-3 in league Friday and handed King’s its first PSAL loss. Sam Andreacchi tallied 24 kills for Pinewood, with Sammie Cardenas adding 35 assists.