SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION V VOLLEYBALL : Bunce, Benkovsky Spark Capistrano Valley Christian

Although Capistrano Valley Christian lost a game for the first time in the playoffs, Kathleen Bunce and Karen Benkovsky did lead the Eagles to a 15-13, 15-2, 10-15, 15-12 victory over North Hills L.A. Baptist in the Southern Section Division V girls’ volleyball championship match Saturday at Cerritos College.

Bunce led the top-seeded Eagles (18-0) with 22 kills and Benkovsky added 21. Capistrano Valley Christian, the defending State champions who have been ranked No. 1 in Division V all season, extended its winning streak to 22.

Second-seeded L.A. Baptist (18-1) handed the Eagles their last loss, winning in four games during last season’s Southern Section Division 1-A semifinals.

“We were ranked No. 1 going into last year’s match with L.A. Baptist,” Bunce said. “After we lost, I think this season we just wanted to prove to ourselves we could beat them.”

Capistrano Valley Christian won Game 1, in which the teams combined for 13 aces.

Bunce, a 6-foot-1 senior outside hitter who has committed to Loyola Marymount, served three of her four aces in Game 1, including two consecutive jump serve aces to give the Eagles a 10-8 lead.

Bunce had seven kills in Game 2, finishing the game with four in a row as the Eagles won the last nine points.

“They were tougher to stop this season because they moved Bunce to the outside,” L.A. Baptist Coach Sue Newcomb said. “We could have folded up our tents after the second game, but we fought back.”

The Knights rallied in Game 3 behind Sarah Rameson, who had 19 kills and 18 digs.

With the score tied, 10-10, officials awarded L.A. Baptist a penalty point because Capistrano Valley Christian Coach Dave Barkley made an illegal substitution. Barkley said he forgot to list all of his players on the official score sheet.

The penalty point started a 5-0 run for L.A. Baptist, which won Game 3, 15-10.