Roundup: Esperanza maintains playoff edge

Laguna Beach's Tyler Alter, left, blocks attempts to block a ball hit by Rancho Dominguez' Kennett Guardado during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Laguna Beach's Jack Wyett, right, hits the ball past he blocking attempt of Rancho Dominguez' Jerry Phillips during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Laguna Beach's Ben Polins-Jones, right, attempts to hit the ball past the block of Rancho Dominguez' Jerry Phillips during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Rancho Dominguez' Erik Lopez, left, attempts to hit the ball past the block of Laguna Beach's Alec Wulff during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Rancho Dominguez' Kennett Guardado, middle fails to hit the ball through the block of Laguna Beach's Jack Wyett, left, and Tyler Alter during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Rancho Dominguez' Julio Diaz, right, hits the ball past the blocking attempt of Laguna Beach's Tyler Alter, left, and Jack Wyett during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Laguna Beach's Erik Lopez, middle attempts to hit the ball past the block of Ben Polins-jones, right, and Jack Wyett during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Rancho Dominguez' Jerry Phillips, back, taps the ball over the block of Laguna Beach's Ben Polins-Jones during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Laguna Beach's Jack Wyett, back, hits the ball through the block of Rancho Dominguez' Anthony Estalilla during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Laguna Beach's Jake Hexberg, right, hits the ball past the blocking attempt of Rancho Dominguez' Anthony Estalilla during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Laguna Beach's Lucas Capobianco bumps the ball during a CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match against Rancho Dominguez on Tuesday at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Huntington Beach's Josh Tuaniga, left, and Ryan Morrissey, right, attempt a blockduring a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Rancho Dominguez' Julio Diaz, right, fails to hit the ball through the block of Laguna Beach's Noah Blanton during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division 3 Regionals first-round match at Rancho Dominguez Preparatory.
Huntington Beach's Drake Evans attempts a hit during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's TJ Defalco attempts a hit during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's Drake Evans attempts a hit during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's Brenden Sander attempts a hit during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's Josh Tuaniga, left, and Ryan Morrissey, right, attempt a blockduring a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's Brenden Sander attempts a block during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's Brenden Sander attempts a hit during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's TJ Defalco attempts a hit during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.
Huntington Beach's Drake Evans, left, and Brenden Sander, right, attempt a block during a CIF SoCal Regional Division 1 playoff game against Torrey Pines Tuesday at Huntington Beach.

By Damian Calhoun | dcalhoun@scng.com | Daily Breeze

May 27, 2014 at 11:17 p.m.

Finding the motivation after an emotional victory in the CIF-SS boys volleyball finals on Saturday might have been troublesome for some teams, but not Esperanza.

The Aztecs, who captured their second consecutive CIF-SS Division 2 title Saturday, opened the CIF Southern California Regionals with a 25-17, 25-14, 25-17 victory over visiting Westview of San Diego on Tuesday in a Division II match.

Jake Arnitz led the Aztecs (29-6) with 17 kills. Ben Oxnard added 11. Setter Ryan Heller had 42 assists.

“To play in this tournament, this late in the year, it is rewarding, but also icing on the cake,” Esperanza coach Isaac Owens said. “We really wanted to win CIF again. We’re going to play loose (in the regionals), and if we win, we win, and if we lose, I think we’re OK with that at this point.

“For the most part, the guys want to have fun.”

The Aztecs will be host to La Costa Canyon in the regional semifinals Thursday.

Last year, the Aztecs followed up their CIF-SS title by winning the regional title as well.

Also in Division II:

Corona del Mar 3, Eagle Rock 0: The Sea Kings, who lost in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals, opened the regional tournament with a 25-19, 25-15, 25-17 road victory.

CdM will home against South Pasadena on Thursday.

In Division I:

Huntington Beach 3, Torrey Pines 0: The Oilers (38-0) had little trouble in their first-round match, rolling to a 25-11, 25-15, 25-12 victory at home. TJ DeFalco led the Oilers with 14 kills.

The Oilers will be home against Redondo in the semifinals. The teams met in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals with the Oilers winning in three sets.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com