Huntington Beach starts off right where it ended

Huntington Beach's Davis Gillett celebrates with his team after defeating Corona del Mar 25-23, 25-17, 26-24 for the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match at Edison High.
Huntington Beach's Ryan Morrissey slams the ball as Corona del Mar's Joey Martino, left, and Will Hunter try to block during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match at Edison High.
Huntington Beach's Jake Weiser reacts to a hard earned point with TJ Defalco, right, during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match against Corona del Mar at Edison High. Huntington Beach went on to beat Corona del Mar 25-23, 25-17, 26-24.
Huntington Beach's Jake Weiser dives for the ball during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match against Corona del Mar at Edison High.
Huntington Beach's Andrew Pearson scores a point as Corona del Mar's Kevin Fults tries to block during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match at Edison High. Huntington Beach went on to beat Corona del Mar 25-23, 25-17, 26-24.
Corona del Mar's Matt Ctvrtlik digs the ball during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match against Huntington Beach at Edison High.
Huntington Beach's Jake Weiser, left, and Brenden Sander dive for the ball during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match against Corona del Mar at Edison High.
Corona del Mar's Mika Grasso celebrates a hard earned point during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match against Huntington Beach at Edison High.
Huntington Beach's Jake Weiser digs the ball during the Dave Mohs Tournament championship volleyball match against Corona del Mar at Edison High. Huntington Beach went on to beat Corona del Mar 25-23, 25-17, 26-24.
Huntington Beach's Davis Gillett sets the ball against Corona del Mar at Edison High on Monday. Gillett ended the match with an ace, clinching the match for the Oilers.

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

March 25, 2014 at 9:35 a.m.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – The Huntington Beach boys volleyball team ended last year by placing the perfect exclamation points on its season, winning both CIF-SS and Southern California Regional titles.

This season’s team is looking to match that feat, and the Oilers are off to a great start.

Top-ranked Huntington Beach captured its second tournament title this season, sweeping second-ranked Corona del Mar, 25-23, 25-17, 26-24, in the Division 1 final of the Orange County Championships on Monday at Edison High.

The Oilers (14-0) won the Best of the West Invitational last weekend in San Diego. They defeated the Sea Kings in the semifinals.

“We have a lot of new guys coming up and it is all about the championship at the end … we want to repeat,” senior middle blocker Drake Evans said. “That’s how we stay motivated.”

Oilers junior TJ DeFalco was selected tournament MVP. Brenden Sander and Evans earned all-tournament honors.

Neither team had more than a two-point lead in the first set. Fortunately for the Oilers, their lead came at 25-23 off a serving error by the Sea Kings.

The second set saw the Oilers, playing without their top two setters, score the first five points and lead 17-10 by the time the first timeout was taken by the Sea Kings.

“We haven’t practiced with this lineup at all,” Huntington Beach coach Craig Pazanti said. “We found out Wednesday that (setter) Tanner (Woods) broke his hand and wasn’t able to play. Davis (Gillett) stepped in without basically practicing.”

The Sea Kings tried to stave off the sweep, rallying from a 24-21 hole in the third set to tie the Oilers at 24. However, after a serving error, the Oilers were back on championship point, and this time Gillett ended the match with an ace.

“I think our guys, for whatever reason, were a little intimidated against these guys,” CdM coach Steve Conti said. “They’re a very good team, but the mental approach you have when you feel intimidated is not one of playing aggressive and playing with confidence.”

In the Division 2 final:

Capistrano Valley 2, Lakewood 1: Grant Friedman helped the Cougars (9-3) take control with three consecutive kills late in the third set to put the finishing touches on the 25-17, 23-25, 15-9 victory. Friedman was the Division 2 MVP.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com