HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL : CHAMPIONSHIPS : Section’s Defending Champions Have a Completely Successful Night

Although La Jolla has appeared in the San Diego Section 2-A or Division II final volleyball finals for the past eight years, the pendulum has swung more in favor of USDHS lately.

La Jolla won four consecutive titles from 1982-85 but has now lost to the Dons in the past four championship matches, including a 15-11, 8-15, 15-5, 15-11 decision Saturday at San Pasqual High School.

All three defending champions--USDHS, Poway in Division I and Francis Parker in Division III--won in the tripleheader of section title matches.

“La Jolla’s much improved by this match,” USDHS Coach Rob Gorney said. “But we were really up for them. I thought our attack and our defense were strong.”

Both schools are representatives of the Western League. Second-seeded La Jolla’s only two losses in the league were to top-seeded USDHS, both in four games.

But it was a wonder La Jolla (18-2) even got this far, what with a graduation toll of nine starters and with three starting sophomores. La Jolla defeated previously unbeaten Escondido in three games in the semifinals.

“It’s a bit of a consolation,” said La Jolla Coach Vicki Eveleth, “but any time you get this far and lose, it’s tough.”

Junior Michelle Rico had 23 kills and senior Amy Siedlinger had 13 kills and seven blocked shots to lead USDHS (19-2).

Division I

Top-seeded Poway (19-0), ranked fourth in the state, defeated second-seeded Palomar League rival Torrey Pines, 16-14, 15-7, 15-8, for its fifth section title in eight years.

The meeting between Poway and Torrey Pines, ranked ninth in the state, was the third this season. The Titans won the first two in four games.

“This time it was just three,” Poway Coach Lisa Reis said. “The only way they could have lost is if they had laid down and died.”

They did no such thing. In a somewhat shaky first game, where the lead changed six times, Poway pulled out the two-point victory, then got down to business in the second game. The closest the Falcons came was 9-7.

“Their level just rose,” Torrey Pines Coach Jim Harrah said. “We didn’t let down. We just let it get away from us in the second game.”

The Titans were down, 8-3, in the third game, but Poway’s front line kept pounding shots deep into Torrey Pines back court, and the Titans won the next 12 points and the match.

Senior Christy Fortney said this games marks the end of a season and a beginning of a new one for Poway, which will begin play in the Southern California Regionals Tuesday. (Seedings and sites will be announced today.)

“This was our biggest game,” she said, “but this is when our season starts.”

Even a first round victory would be a milestone. No Division I or II team from San Diego has ever gotten past the first round in the state tournament.

Division I

1-A Championship

Three-time defending state and four-time defending section 1-A/Division III Francis Parker defeated Christian, 15-2, 15-11, 15-13. Mary Burt had 12 kills, and Juli Cheskaty added eight.

First-year Coach Doug Huffman said there was pressure in inheriting a program with such success, but having four returning players with state playoff experience helped.