For the area's boys' volleyball teams in the Pacific League, success is a matter of keeping up with perennial powers Arcadia and Claremont.
This season, Crescenta Valley High kept pace to the tune of a 6-4 league record — good for third place — leading to an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.
The Falcons also succeeded in landing four of their players on the All-Pacific League team, which is voted on by the league's coaches.
At the forefront of that effort were senior outside hitter Mike Cho and senior middle blocker Mazen Jahchan, both of whom garnered All-Pacific League first-team honors for the Crescenta Valley.
"They were huge to us," said Falcons' Head Coach John Nelson of Cho and Jahchan. "They were our two big hitters, but probably the best thing was their work ethic.
"Both of them were very coachable, and they both worked very hard every day. That made a big difference for us."
Cho tallied 243 kills this season, bringing his career total to 391, which moved him into 12th place on the Falcons' all-time list. He also notched 42 aces on the season.
Jahchan moved into 13th place on the Falcons' career kills list with 360, including 234 kills this season. His 55 blocks on the year were a team high.
"I think overall it was a very good senior year for me," Jahchan said. "We didn't have a very big team, but we had a lot of talent."
It was the second consecutive first-team selection for Cho and the first for Jahchan, who was a second-teamer a year ago.
Senior Joe Cody, who received an honorable mention in 2006, was the only second-team selection for Crescenta Valley this year.
The Falcons finished the season with a 13-9 record, but drew a tough first-round opponent in the playoffs.
They were swept by Santa Barbara, which advanced to the Division II championship before losing to Corona del Mar.
Honorable mentions were also given to Crescenta Valley senior John Cody and Hoover senior outside hitter Josh Neale.
