SETTER DOMINIC NICOLAS (13) and senior Patrick Basco (31) will try to lead the Bruins to another TCAL boys volleyball championship.

The St. Patrick-St. Vincent High boys volleyball team has won six straight league championships and hasn’t lost a league match since 2008. The Bruins seem primed to extend both of those streaks this season.

SPSV lost only four seniors from last year’s undefeated Tri-County Athletic League champion. Four of the six regular starters return from a team that went 25-12 overall and reached the North Coast Section Division III championship match and the Northern California Division II Regional Tournament.

“We have a lot of returners, including several players we pulled up from the JVs late last year for the playoffs,” said Bruins head coach Danette Domecus. “We’re looking good. They’re practicing hard they’re itching to play.”

The Bruins will be without one of their best players early in the season. Senior outside hitter Maximus King, an All-TCAL Second Team selection last year, twisted his ankle in practice last Monday and will miss at least a couple of weeks.

“He’s on a two-week rehab and we’re hoping his ankle will get stronger,” Domecus said. “We need him back as soon as possible.”

Fellow senior Deo Boongaling finished second in kills for SPSV last year and was also an All-TCAL Second Team selection. He’ll pair with senior Mark Perez as outside hitters, giving the Bruins a solid 1-2 punch despite King’s absence.

Seniors Patrick Basco and All-TCAL Honorable Mention John Cuevas are returning starters and anchor the defense. Setter Dominic Nicolas finished second in assists last year, and sophomores Anthony Olmes and Noah Moretti will assume new roles on the front line.

“We’ve moved several players to new positions this year, and the sophomores who came up to varsity are really working hard in practice to find a place on the court,” Domecus said.

Senior Ryan Villaseran was an All-TCAL Honorable Mention last year and will factor into the equation this season as an outside hitter or defensive specialist. Senior Anthony Nogaliza saw lots of playing time off the bench last year and is one of the team’s best defensive players. Sophomore Matthew Peters has been impressive and could see time as a middle hitter, and fellow sophomore Alex Olmes is another potential source for kills on the outside.

“I think our go-to guys will be Mark and Deo,” Domecus said. “They’ve been doing a real good job as leaders in practice and they’re working hard to push the team to the next level. They both will be handling the ball a lot this year.”

The Bruins were supposed to open their season last Thursday at home against De Anza, but the Dons backed out at the last minute. SPSV is scheduled to play at El Cerrito on Monday.

There doesn’t appear to be any team capable of knocking the Bruins off the TCAL throne, and Domecus is just fine with that. In fact, she expects nothing less than another undefeated league season.

“I would be very disappointed if we don’t go undefeated in league again,” Domecus said. “I don’t see anyone who comes even close to our level.

“We could be better than last year because we have more experienced players. Our defense should be strong again and we’ve definitely grown a lot as hitters. We have more firepower than we had last year. A lot of players played club volleyball and we learned a lot over the offseason. They’ve increased their knowledge of the game.”

SPSV’s home opener is scheduled for this Thursday against Pinole Valley.

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