No. 10 Servite starts off with victory over Dana Hills

In boys volleyball on Tuesday:

No. 10 Servite 3, Dana Hills 1: Devin Ross finished with 19 kills as the Friars knocked off the visiting Dolphins, 25-27, 25-16, 25-16, 25-22, in a nonleague match.

Middle blocker Kyle Palmer added 10 kills and five blocks, and Ryan Windisch had 19 digs for the Friars (1-0), who are ranked 10th in the O.C. preseason Top 10.

“It was a good opener,” Servite coach Matt Marrujo said. “I like playing a team like this right away.”

Dana Hills (0-1) pulled to within 22-20 in Game 4 on Tim Ryan’s kill. However, Ross responded with a kill before Palmer’s kill gave the Friars match point.

Servite closed Game 3 out with a 10-2 run. The highlight included a monster kill from Palmer to set up game point.

“That was probably the hardest he hit a ball in his life,” Marrujo said. “That was the best volleyball we played of the match. It was nice to see us competing there at such a high level so early.”

Dana Hills had three game points in Game 1 before closing it out on a Servite error. The Dolphins came back with a new line up in Game 2, part of Coach Oz Simmons’ plan to get everyone time.

“We only had three guys who played varsity last year,” he said. “There’s no substitution for playing a varsity match.”

Servite played without outside hitter Madison Hayden, who was sick, Marrujo said.

El Modena 3, Garden Grove 0: Steven Marshall recorded 11 kills for the host Vanguards (1-0) in the sweep, 25-15, 25-12, 25-19.

Loara 3, Cerritos 1: Howard Gauta and Chris Pedroza combined for 30 kills to lead the Saxons (1-0) to victory in four games, 25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 25-22.

Crean Lutheran 3, Katella 1: John Updyke dished out 41 assists as the Saints came back to win in four, 23-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-17.