The top-seeded Huntington Beach boys volleyball team entered Wednesday’s match having dropped just five sets all season.
That total was threatened early in its match against Redondo in a CIF-SS Division 1 semifinal.
After squeezing by in the opener, the Oilers needed every bit of poise and a couple of breaks to overcome a six-point deficit in the second set that would send them on the way to a 25-23, 26-24, 25-15 victory at Redondo High.
The Oilers (36-0) advance to face Loyola of Los Angeles in the finals Saturday night at Cerritos College. Loyola defeated Corona del Mar in five sets in the other semifinal. Huntington Beach defeated Loyola in the CIF and Southern California Regional finals last year.
“We’ve been there before,” Huntington Beach coach Craig Pazanti said of second set danger.
But certainly not this year.
Redondo scored the first six points of the second set and extended it to 17-11, but it couldn’t get rid of the Oilers.
“We were kind of getting on each other,” Oilers senior Drake Evans said. “Coach called a timeout and told us to play together and that the best team would come out and win.”
“This year, we’ve lost sets, but it has never been like our backs were against the wall.”
Brenden Sander would tie the set at 19-19 for the Oilers with a kill off the block.
Huntington Beach would take the lead at 23-22, but Redondo made it to set point first, 24-23. However, a service error kept the set alive, setting the stage for a kill from TJ DeFalco and an ace from Evans to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead in the match.
With the momentum, the Oilers blew open the third set early, cruising to the victory.
DeFalco led the Oilers with 20 kills. Sander added 13. Setter Josh Tuaniga had 41 assists.
“They started making some plays and they picked up their level of play,” Redondo coach Duncan Avery said. “I think we played pretty consistent throughout that second set and they made the plays.”
In Division 2:
Laguna Beach 3, El Segundo 0: Jack Burgi and Jack Wyett had 17 kills apiece to lead the Breakers to a victory at home, 25-17, 25-19, 25-21. The Breakers will face Esperanza in the finals on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Cerritos College.
Esperanza 3, San Marcos 2: Jake Arnitz led the Aztecs back to the finals with 38 kills in their 21-25, 25-22, 25-16, 22-25, 15-11 road victory against the top seed. The Aztecs are the defending champion.
Connor Jordan and Ben Oxnard had 12 kills apiece. Oxnard also had 15 digs.
In Division 5:
Saddleback Valley Christian 3, Arrowhead Christian 0: The Warriors, the defending Division 5 champions, are headed back to the finals after a victory at home, 25-18, 25-17, 25-15.
Noah Dyer had 14 kills and 17 assists for SVC.
Garden Grove 3, Laguna Blanca 2: The Argonauts rallied to pull out a victory, 22-25, 26-24, 26-28, 25-20, 15-11, and advance to Saturday’s final against Saddleback Valley Christian.
Arturo Alday led the Argonauts with 21 kills and 12 blocks. Thomas Taufetee had 19. Mitchell Hesea had 12 kills adn 12 blocks. Eric Thai had 42 assists
The final will be at 9 a.m. at Cerritos College.
In Division 4
Cathedral 3, St. Margaret’s 1: The top-seeded Phantoms advanced to the finals with their 25-16, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22 road victory.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
