Los Alamitos overcomes early stumble

Opening playoff matches by losing the first game has not been common around the Los Alamitos girls volleyball program in recent years.

However, that is the situation that this year’s team was placed in after the first game of Tuesday’s CIF-SS Division I-AA first round match against visiting Mater Dei.

The Griffins (29-5) then took their cue from coach Dave Huber and rebounded on the way a 23-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-19 victory. Los Alamitos will face either San Clemente or Temecula Valley in the second round Thursday.

“Game one really didn’t surprise me,” Huber said. “I looked at the girls and said you took what they had and you saw what they got, now go show them what you got.”

A lot of what the Griffins had came from freshman Jane Croson. Croson led the attack with 19 kills.

“The whole year she has just played volleyball,” Huber said of Croson. “She doesn’t think about a whole lot else. She is always on to her next swing. She has been consistent and steady all year.”

Christine Douglas had 11 kills and Brianna Dixion had 10. Katie Crosby had 49 assists. Kelly Holford had 40 digs for the Griffins.

“We had more energy and we passed better (after game one),” Crosby said. “We just connected better all the way around.”

The Monarchs put up a fight in the fourth game despite falling behind 7-0 early. Mater Dei eventually rallied to within two points, 17-15, before the Griffins regained control to win the match.

“We came out on fire in game one,” Mater Dei coach Jimmy Munoz said. “Game two, they got up big on us and their guns let loose.

“They definitely outhit us and outscored us through their hitting.”

Also in Division I-AA:

Rosary 3, Vista Murrieta 1: Nicole Favreau led the Royals (17-14) with 29 kills in a 18-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-23 upset victory over the second seeded Broncos. Chanel Araujo had 24 digs and Katie Mullen had 32 assists for Rosary.

Edison 3, Woodbridge 0: The Chargers (13-12) swept the host Warriors, 25-19, 25-18, 25-15 behind the play of Mackenzie Knox who led the attack with 10 kills. Edison will face Rosary in the second round.

In Division I-A:

El Dorado 3, Rancho Cucamonga 0: Meredith Crenshaw tallied 16 kills for the host Golden Hawks (25-8) in a 25-10, 25-23, 25-11 victory. El Dorado will visit Dos Pueblos in the second round Thursday.

El Modena 3, Alta Loma 2: It took a bit of fifth-game magic, but the Vanguards (14-9) prevailed with a 25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 19-25, 15-12 home victory.
Hillary Williamson led El Modena with 22 kills. El Modena will visit Flintridge Sacred Heart Thursday.

In Division III-AA:

Cypress 3, Culver City 0: Lauryn Herrick led the fourth-seeded Centurions (27-2) with 12 kills and Kristin Neary had 21 assists in a 25-7, 25-16, 25-5 home victory. Cypress will face La Serna of Whittier in the second round.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com