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In the fourth meeting between Academy League rivals this season, host Sage Hill (28-5) led from start to finish in sweeping Crean Lutheran (22-9), 25-17, 25-19, 25-22 in a CIF State Southern California Regional Division III second-round match.

The Lightning won three of the four meetings against Crean Lutheran this year, including a straight sets victory in the CIF-SS Division 3A championship game last Saturday at Cerritos College.

“We came in knowing that it was going to be a battle,” said Kekai Whitford. “It’s the season that never ends.”

Sage Hill travels to Central Valley Christian of Visalia for its next match Tuesday.

Whitford had 19 kills and 9 digs to lead Sage Hill. Halland McKenna had 16 kills, and Maddy Abbott added 38 assists in the win.

The Lightning jumped out to sizable leads in each game.

Crean Lutheran’s Katie Kyckelhahn traded attacking blows with Whitford in the first set, each recording seven kills in the game.

Sage Hill’s defense limited Kyckelhahn to one kill the rest of the match. Juliette Singarella had four blocks, while Sophie Gordon and Sophia Mossman helped build a defensive wall at the net.

Brook Rigoni led the Saints with three kills in the third game, but Crean Lutheran could only draw to within two late as the Lightning shut the door.

Natalie Demars and Kaila Scheevel each recorded 21/2 blocks for the Saints.