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STATE DIVISION II VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : La Habra Extends Streak to 43, Moving Into Regional Final

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SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

La Habra High held off Bakersfield Highland, 15-13, 8-15, 15-13, 15-7, Saturday night to win its Southern California regional volleyball semifinal and stretch its unbeaten streak to 43 matches.

La Habra advanced to Tuesday’s regional final against Lakewood St. Joseph’s.

Zrinka Kristich, a 6-foot-5 junior who is one of the most formidable hitters in high school volleyball, had 22 kills for La Habra, audibly ruining the manicures of defending middle blockers as she went.

Two of Kristich’s three solo blocks came when she pounded down opposing serves.

Teammate Missy Clements recorded 16 kills and three blocks, and Kristich’s older sister, Ana, had 11 kills and a block.

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Highland (25-5) took a 13-3 lead in the first game, but Ana Kristich hit a cross-court spike for the side out, and outside hitter Jeanette Little came to the line and served 12 consecutive points to give La Habra the game.

From a 6-6 tie in the second game, Highland scored eight consecutive points and yielded only two more points before winning.

In Game 3, the teams were tied at 13-13. After the side out, Little served an ace, and Ana Kristich’s spike went off Highland’s Chaney Ward for the game-winner.

Highland took a 7-3 lead in the final game, but Little served five consecutive points, and after a side out, Ana Kristich served six more in a row to set up the victory.

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