PREP ROUNDUP : Irvine Tops Capistrano Valley in Volleyball

A combination of factors contributed to Irvine’s 15-13, 15-7, 15-11 sweep of Capistrano Valley in South Coast League boys’ volleyball Friday at Irvine.

In the first game, the Cougars started slowly, allowing the Vaqueros to take a 12-2 lead before responding with an eight-point run. Capistrano Valley managed to tie, 13-13, before Irvine prevailed.

In the second game, Irvine bolted to a 12-2 lead because Capistrano Valley had trouble passing the ball.

In the third game, outside hitter Aaron Garcia, with four kills and two block assists, helped the Cougars jump out to a 10-1 lead. Irvine attempted a comeback, but the score was 11-7 when Vaquero Brady Hamilton came to the line.

And Hamilton, who ended the evening with five aces, served seven consecutive points, three of them aces, to put Irvine at match point. After a last side out, Greg Wakeham and Chris Swanner combined to stop Garcia to end the game.

Swanner had a match-high 16 kills and four block assists, and Hamilton and Greg Wakeham had 10 kills each.

“In Game 2, I don’t know where the pass was,” said Cougar Coach Ken Goldstone, “but I don’t think the big difference was passing; it was that guy (Hamilton). We’re a better team than to give up that many points in one rotation. But he was hot. It’s hard to stop anyone when he’s serving like that. It’s just kind of shocking.”