Mid-match Speech Boosts Torrey Pines Into State

They played as if it were do or die, perhaps because it was.

But when Amy Peters smashed the volleyball against the hands of Poway’s Heather Burke and Allison Brady and it went out of bounds, Torrey Pines had won automatic entry into the state Division I playoffs with a two-hour 24-minute victory in front of 1,600 at Grossmont College. The scores were 15-11, 15-12, 10-15, 3-15, 15-12.

“I’m breathing a lot easier, I tell you,” Torrey Pines Coach James Harrah said.

He was breathing easier because the Falcons will open the playoffs at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home against an opponent to be determined.

Poway, on the other hand, must wait until tonight to find out if it will continue in the playoffs. San Diego Section Assistant Commissioner Jan Jessop will meet with representatives from the Southern, Los Angeles City and Central sections to determine the field.

When asked if the five-game performance against Torrey Pines improved Poway’s chances of advancing, she said, “I would think so.”

So would Harrah, who said, “(Poway’s) such a good team, it would be a crime if they didn’t make it.”

This was the second match in a row that Torrey Pines (28-2), the state’s third-ranked team, had been pushed to the brink; the Falcons came back from a two-game deficit against Helix in the Division II Section finals to win the best-of-five match, despite trailing, 12-2, in Game 5.

They were almost stung by fourth-ranked Poway (21-5) this time, winning the first two games before allowing the Titans to tie at two games each. That brought Harrah out of his shell.

“I think after the first two games, we backed off,” he said. “I told them after the fourth game that if they fell behind and did not play aggressively, that they were going to be disappointed, although I told them in terms I don’t think they wanted to hear. I had to jump into them one time; maybe that made the difference.”

After losing Game 4, 15-3, Torrey Pines played inspired volleyball. Senior sisters Amy and Christy Peters sparked the effort, which wiped out 4-2, 6-4 and 7-6 deficits.

Trailing, 7-6, junior Brett Hensel served her second ace of the game, Amy Peters had a kill, and a ball hit long gave Torrey Pines the 9-7 lead it would not relinquish.

Amy Peters finished with 16 kills and Audette Paul had 15. Christy Peters had 13 kills and Hensel 11.

Poway was led by Heather Collins, who had 21 kills and, along with Shana Purvis and Heather Burke, keyed the Titans’ improved play the last three games.

This was the fourth time Poway and Torrey Pines had faced each other, with the Falcons winning three times. It established them as the top program in San Diego for 1990.

“I think we’re definitely the best team in the county,” Harrah said. “Tonight, the chips were down, and better teams always win when it gets tight.”

In the battle for the Division III section title, University of San Diego High School defeated La Jolla (14-3) in the finals for the fifth consecutive year. The Dons won, 15-6, 15-6, 15-3, and will represent San Diego in the state playoffs.

“Winning the title was a goal, but our main goal is to move forward in the playoffs, and not lose in the first or second round,” said USDHS Coach Rob Gorney, who has won a section title every year since he took over the program.

USDHS (22-2) got 16 kills from Michelle Rico and 11 from Christine Alvarado.

La Jolla will also advance to the state playoffs.

Also, Francis Parker defeated Christian, 15-9, 7-15, 15-6, 15-3. The Lancers will make their sixth consecutive appearance in the state tournament.

Jill Meier led Francis Parker with 13 kills. Teammate Julia Cheskaty had 12 kills and Paula McNamee had 10.

Francis Parker enters the state playoffs 22-2; Christian is 23-4.