Huntington Beach gets shot at top-seeded Dos Pueblos

Of the seven county teams playing in their respective division finals, perhaps Huntington Beach’s appearance is the most surprising.

The Oilers road to the finals included over coming injuries and tough losses that prevented an outright league championship. Instead, the Oilers shared the Sea View League with El Toro, and gained the number one seed from the league through the tiebreaker.

Since then, Huntington Beach has beaten Brea Olinda and Serrano, then upset No. 3 Marymount and No. 2 Santa Barbara to get the Division I-A championship match, where it will face No. 1 Dos Pueblos of Goleta on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Cypress College in Gym 2.

“Beating Marymount in five and Santa Barbara gave us confidence,” Oilers coach Craig Pazanti said. “There is no one we are scared of playing. We’ll scratch and claw. I don’t think any team is unbeatable.”

Huntington Beach (16-11) is facing a challenge only one other team has passed. At 29-2, both of the Chargers’ losses are to the No. 1 team in the nation Archbishop Mitty.

During practices Pazanti has talked about taking advantage of the situation and relishing the moment, he said. The team has already been through enough this season not to enjoy it.

Up until the playoffs, Huntington Beach played without its starting libero Savannah Clark, who was out with a torn meniscus. Her return has provided stability on defense.

She wasn’t the only one to miss playing time. Outside hitters Kellie Turner and Andrea Streips and middle blocker Haleigh Hampton dealt with injuries and sickness.

The losses had an impact, as the Oilers suffered losses to Woodbridge and Trabuco Hills.

“We had a little lull at the end of the league season,” Pazanti said. “Things kind of spiraled from the Torrey Pines tournament. We lost six of nine at one point. To get through that and still get the league title is a tribute to the rest of the team.”

Now healthy, Huntington Beach has a shot at winning its first CIF championship since the school’s only appearance in 1996. Before it can happen, the Oilers must contend with Dos Pueblos stars Carly and Sam Wopat.

Though the Chargers haven’t dropped a game in reaching the finals, El Toro and Laguna Beach were in close games. El Toro lost two games 25-21 and 25-22. The Breakers lost the first two games 25-23.

“Our goal since the beginning of the year was to win league and play deep into the playoffs,” Pazanti said.