PREP VOLLEYBALL / REGIONAL ROUNDUP : Bunce, State Champions Start Fast in Division V

After a while, Kathleen Bunce began thinking she was practicing her powerful jump serve rather than serving in a volleyball playoff match.

But it was more like target practice Tuesday night.

Bunce served 13 of Capistrano Valley Christian’s 17 aces as the top-seeded and defending State champion Eagles swept La Jolla Bishop’s School, 15-3, 15-5, 15-2, in a Division V first-round match at Capistrano Valley Christian.

“I just went out and stayed focused on the jump serves,” said Bunce, a 6-foot-1 senior who has committed to Loyola Marymount. “It felt like I was just throwing the ball up in practice.”

Bunce’s 13 aces were five more than her career best, and her 10 kills matched Bishop’s team total. Capistrano Valley Christian needed only 55 minutes to win the match.

She served five consecutive aces to spark an 11-0 run in the first game, added five aces in the second game and three in the third.

“She kind of took the match into her own hands, didn’t she?” Eagle Coach Dave Barkley said. “When she’s on, she’s on. There was a teeny bit of intimidation there.”

Karen Benkovsky added 13 kills for Capistrano Valley Christian (19-0), which meets Reedley Immanuel, a 15-11, 15-5, 16-14 winner over Templeton, in Saturday night’s second round.

In another Division V match:

Calvary Chapel 3, El Cajon Christian 0--Courtney Owens had 18 kills and Jenny Roberts had 10 kills and three blocks for visiting Calvary Chapel (16-3), which won, 15-3, 15-6, 15-9. Calvary Chapel advances to the second round and will play, Brentwood, a 15-9, 15-11, 14-16, 15-9 winner over Visalia Central Valley Christian, Saturday.

In Division III:

Newport Harbor 3, University of San Diego High 0--After an emotional five-game loss to Laguna Beach in the Southern Section playoffs, Newport Harbor found just enough energy to win, 15-11, 15-8, 15-9, in a first-round match.

“It’s not one of those where you want to play well, you want to win,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “We have a couple good players, but we didn’t really stand out because we weren’t playing emotionally.”

Newport Harbor (16-4) will play Atascadero, a 8-15, 16-14, 15-12, 15-1 winner over Lemoore, in the second round Saturday.

Host Newport Harbor fell short in its passing efforts and relied heavily on its serving, finishing the match with 13 aces.

In the opening game, freshman Julie Hecker closed it out for the Sailors with two aces and a service winner. In Game 2, outside hitter Amy Evans tied it, 8-8, with an ace down the middle, which sparked a string of seven consecutive Newport Harbor points.

Trailing, 9-8, in the third game, freshman Jenny Hecker served out for the match. Sophomore Misty May, who had six kills in the third game, led the Sailors with 12 kills, one solo block and two aces.

Susanne Robertson led USDHS (15-13) with eight kills and three blocks.