Esperanza uses height to sweep Santa Barbara

ANAHEIM – Esperanza's dominance in the postseason continued Saturday with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-20 victory over Santa Barbara in a CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal volleyball match at Esperanza High.

The Aztecs (27-3), who have yet to lose a game in three playoff matches, will play on the road for Tuesday's semifinal round.

"It will get much more difficult next round," Esperanza coach Isaac Owens said.

The Aztecs were taller and more physical than the Dons (20-8) who didn't have a player taller than 6-foot-4.

Aztecs hitters Jake Arnitz, Andrew Benz, Jacob Johnson and Darrin Sorrell range from 6-4 to 6-9, and that height advantage was obvious at the net. Benz and Arnitz led with 11 kills each and Sorrell finished with nine.

"I think that is the thing that has helped us more than anything else this year," Owens said of the Aztecs' height advantage. "We are a big team and physically strong and that seems to be a key for us."

Blake Auerbach did most of the setting, finishing with 34 assists. Ben Oxnard led the Aztecs defensively with 11 digs.

Esperanza had a scare when Johnson went down because of what appeared to be a twisted ankle in the first game. The senior outside hitter was assisted off the court, but then returned later in the first game and played in the next two games.

Owens said Johnson is fine and will be ready for the semifinal match.

Contact the writer: lponsi@ocregister.com