SOUTHERN SECTION VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Harvard Starts Slowly but Rolls Into 3-A Final

Throughout the season, Harvard High volleyball Coach Mark Zalin has stressed to Andres Carlo that he has the potential to dominate a match if he concentrates.

“He is always telling me that I have the ability pick up my game,” Carlo said.

On Wednesday afternoon, before Harvard’s Southern Section 3-A Division volleyball semifinal match against La Serna, Zalin reinforced another point.

“I told him not to be late for the bus,” Zalin said of Carlo, who has been known to be tardy.

Carlo held his end of the bargain and arrived 15 minutes before the departure of the bus. However, it took rest of the team a while to get started against La Serna before Harvard powered to a 15-9, 15-2, 15-2 victory at Whittier College.

Second-seeded Harvard (16-2) advances to the 3-A final for the second time in four seasons against Royal on Saturday night at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Harvard, the San Fernando League champion, has won 67 league matches in a row over the past six seasons. Royal, the two-time defending 2-A champion, coasted through Marmonte League play this season. La Serna, the Whitmont League champion, finished 15-3.

Harvard, which has not lost a game in three playoff matches and has outscored its opponents, 135-58, lost in the final in 1988 and in the semifinals in 1989 and 1990.

Against La Serna, Carlo, a 6-foot-5 senior middle blocker, recorded a match-high 11 kills and seven stuff blocks. Teammates Eric Wells and Adam Davirro, who have committed to play at Stanford and UC Santa Barbara next season, added 12 and eight kills.

“Andres was on tonight,” Zalin said. “We’ve always known he has had it in him. To have 11 kills in a (match) when you allow only 13 points is tremendous. He has tendency to be hot and cold at times, but not many people can take control of a match the way he can.”

Harvard took control behind nine kills by Carlo in the second and third games, racing to 10-0 leads in each.

“That was probably the best we’ve played all season,” Harvard setter Brian Baise said. “Everybody was playing together. I hope we can keep it up in the final.”

The Saracens struggled in the first game, making seven hitting errors and five service errors. The Saracens trailed, 4-3, before going ahead, 5-4. Harvard extended the lead to 10-8 and scored six consecutive points to take a 14-8 advantage.

Royal d. Long Beach Poly, 15-3, 17-15, 15-11--The defending 2-A champion advanced to the 3-A final with the win at Moorpark High.

Kevin Hambly had 22 kills and Mark Fiala added 14 for Royal (19-1). Karl Weschta had 10 kills and Doug Smith was successful on 86% of his passes and added seven service points.