Two previous matches against El Dorado this season didn’t go or end well for the Beckman girls volleyball team.
The third opportunity came with the season on the line in Saturday’s CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal.
The outcome and result was perfect for the host Patriots as they swept second-seeded El Dorado, 25-22, 25-18, 25-19, to advance to Tuesday’s semifinals.
Beckman (24-11) will host Chino Hills in the semifinals. Chino Hills defeated Orange Lutheran in five sets in another quarterfinal Saturday.
Beckman and El Dorado (26-8) met in the Dave Mohs Tournament and at the Durango Fall Classic, with the Golden Hawks winning both matches in two sets.
“We didn’t play well either time we played them,” Beckman coach Darin McBain said. “So that was something that I could take to the girls and say, you know what, they’ve beaten us twice, but we weren’t ourselves.
“But we’re playing our best volleyball right now. Our last three matches have been the best we’ve played all season.”
That three-match stretch coincides with the start of the CIF playoffs. The Patriots opened with a four-set victory over M.L. King of Riverside and a sweep of Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. Saturday, that momentum carried over in the first set as they pulled out a tight opening set and from there the Patriots were in control.
Jill Schneggenburger led the Patriots with 20 kills and her sister Hannah added 13.
“We played really well,” senior middle blocker Hannah Schneggenburger said. “Our defense was what kept us in the game and helped us win.
“Our passing has made us a better team overall. That’s what is carrying us to the next round.”
The Patriots finished the regular season in third place in the Pacific Coast League. Their performances in the second half of league against the top half of league (Corona del Mar and Woodbridge) ended in losses.
They’ve been able to put that behind as the playoffs have geared up.
“When we get to the playoffs, we give them a little more rest, to be honest,” McBain said. “We don’t go so hard in practice. It is more about staying healthy and making sure they’re fresh and ready.
“These girls are so fired up right now.”
Sydney Anderson led El Dorado with 10 kills.
In Division 1 …
Santa Margarita 3, Great Oak of Temecula 0: The top-seeded Eagles (33-4) made quick work of the Wolfpack, with a 25-14, 25-23, 25-16 road victory. Meghan McClure led the way with 19 kills for the Eagles. Haley Carmo and Sarah Ciszek added 10 and nine, respectively.
The Eagles will host Long Beach Poly in the semifinals. Long Beach Poly rallied to defeat Huntington Beach in five sets.
Mater Dei 3, Lakewood 0: The second-seeded Monarchs (32-5) swept visiting Lakewood, 25-15, 29-27, 25-12, to advance to the semifinals. Mater Dei will host Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach on Tuesday.
In Division 3
Sage Hill 3, Saddleback Valley Christian 1: Jamie Dailey and Amiyah De’Long had 14 kills apiece to lead the top-seeded Lightning to the 25-16, 21-25, 25-18, 25-21 victory.
Sydnee Francis had 12 kills.
Jamie Blevins had 41 assists and four aces.
Sage Hill will be on the road in the next round against fourth-seeded St. Joseph of Lakewood.
Foothill 3, Burroughs 1: The Knights (18-10) advanced to the semifinals with their 25-17, 19-25, 25-22, 25-16 road victory.
In Division 8
Katella 3, Yucca Valley 1: The Knights are headed to their first ever semifinals following their 25-23, 25-15, 15-25, 25-18 road victory.
In Division 9
Tarbut V’Torah 3, Buckley of Sherman Oaks 2: The top-seeded Lions rallied by winning the fourth and fifth sets to move on to the semifinals. The scores were 25-18, 17-25, 9-25, 25-22, 15-12.
Capistrano Valley Christian 3, Santa Clarita Christian 0: The Eagles are headed to their first semifinals in more than 20 years following their 25-12, 25-21, 25-10 home victory.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com
