Royal Plays Spoiler Role in League With Sweep

After owning all or part of the past eight Marmonte League championships, the Royal High girls volleyball team has assumed a very different role in this season’s title race--that of spoiler.

“It’s not for anyone else’s benefit but to prove that we have a good team,” Royal Coach Bob Ferguson said. “I think we have something to prove. We have some good players, but our record doesn’t reflect that.”

Royal, just 6-5 in league and 7-6 overall, rallied in the second and third games Tuesday night to defeat Newbury Park at Royal, 15-8, 15-9, 15-12.

The loss knocked Newbury Park (6-5, 9-6 overall) out of the league race and probably the playoffs. Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Simi Valley are tied for first with 8-3 records. Only three Southern Section 2-A Division playoff berths are guaranteed, with the chance of one at-large berth.

Newbury Park Coach Joe Wortmann, who starts four sophomores and two seniors, knew the Panthers would have to battle a noisy gym and the Royal tradition. After winning the first game behind steady team play, Royal struggled early in each of the next two games.

Newbury Park jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the second game on four Royal net errors, two Lura Braden hitting errors and two serve receive errors. Royal showed the inconsistency that had haunted the team this season. But the inexperienced Panthers seemed uncomfortable with the lead.

“They’re a good team, but we gave them a lot of those points at the beginning,” Ferguson said. “Then we turn around and play perfect.”

Royal cut the lead to 9-4 before reeling off 11 unanswered points. Outside hitter Chris Barrett and middle blocker Sara Toring got Royal rolling, accounting for seven points on three Barrett kills and three Toring stuff blocks and a kill. Setter Julie Myers, who served for all 11 points, recorded a service ace for game point.

Royal, which has faced a season full of pressure, seems to have finally relaxed. Toring played one of her best games and her play turned Royal around in the second and third games, Ferguson said.

“I’m finally out of the slump and playing good,” Toring said. “It feels good to be back again.”

But in the third game, Royal again had its back to the wall, trailing 10-0. Newbury Park built its lead behind the play of middle blocker Karen Austin and the setting of sophomore Shannon Mutch.

Royal, relying on its experience, mounted another comeback that seemed to rattle Newbury Park. Julie Dahlberg got Royal on the scoreboard with a dump that dropped underneath two Panther blockers. A Braden block, a Newbury Park error and two diving saves by Myers cut the Panther lead to 10-4. Newbury Park committed three errors before Royal’s Suzi Koonter added a block and one of her game-high 11 kills. A Dahlberg ace tied the score at 10.

After Royal took a 14-12 lead, Myers closed out the match with an ace.