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Middle blockers lead Orange Lutheran to victory
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Boys volleyball playoffs: Los Alamitos battles its way past Huntington Beach.
Three years ago Garet Kreutziger and Ryan Austin hung around the Orange Lutheran boys volleyball team during its Division III title run. Their freshman season completed, they were able to soak in the playoff experience.
“We knew they would be playing in games like this,” Lancers coach Marc Laulhere said.
The two middle blockers Tuesday gave Orange Lutheran the edge Laulhere long expected in its 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 victory against host Fountain Valley in a CIF-SS Division I second-round match.
Orange Lutheran plays host to Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach on Friday.
“We're peaking at the right time,” Laulhere said. “We've played against good teams all year. We're not afraid to go against anybody.”
Laulhere is particularly talking about Santa Margarita and Mater Dei, both of which beat Orange Lutheran by close margins in the past few weeks. A year ago the Lancers finished last in the Trinity League. But a victory against Foothill in the first round and Fountain Valley in the second has Laulhere telling his team to “just keep going.”
Kreutziger had 11 kills and four blocks and Maurice Torres had 10 kills to lead the Lancers, who collectively focused their attention on Barons outside hitter Dillon Emery, who had 12 kills.
Fountain Valley (24-11) went from last in its league in 2007 to an at-large entry this season. Aaron Gerardi had 11 kills and Andrew Kinney had nine kills and six blocks, keeping the Barons close in all three games.
“I anticipated it going five,” Barons coach Todd Hansen said.
Also in Division I:
Los Alamitos 3, Huntington Beach 0: Sean Senozan had 43 assists and Kyle McElderry had 14 kills to lead a trio of Griffins (23-9) with double-digit kills against the host Oilers (16-9), 26-24, 25-23, 26-24.
In Division III:
Loara 3, Warren of Downey 0: Derek Rhyne had 17 kills and Bryan Do had 37 assists as the Saxons (16-2) defeated the visiting Bears (15-6), 25-19, 25-13, 25-22.
In Division V:
St. Margaret's 3, St. Bernard of Playa del Rey 2: Harley Frost had 15 kills to lead the host Tartans (19-4) past the Vikings (11-8-4), 25-23, 25-13, 15-25, 20-25, 15-6.
Contact the writer: amaya@ocregister.com
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