STATE VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Laguna Beach Avenges Loss, Outlasts Poway

Playing poised when it counted most, Laguna Beach out-punched host Poway, 17-15, 11-15, 15-11, 15-11 in a 2 1/2-hour slugfest Saturday night. The victory moved Laguna Beach into the Division I semifinals of the state girls’ volleyball championships and avenged one of the Artists’ two losses this season.

For Poway, it was a night of frustration. The Titans (25-2), seeded No. 2 in Southern California and trying to reach the semifinals for the first time, wasted several leads, including a 10-5 advantage in the key fourth game.

“They just made a lot less errors, especially at key times,” said Poway Coach Lisa Reis. “They were in control most of the match.”

The first game was a sign of the way the two teams would go at each other all night. Featuring two of the state’s top hitters--Laguna Beach senior Rachel Wacholder and 6-foot-2 junior Kara Milling of Poway--the first game lasted more than 40 minutes. Poway led 5-2 before Laguna Beach rallied to take an 8-5 lead. But with Wacholder playing in the back row, Poway moved ahead 9-8. The game went back and forth until Poway took a 13-11 lead. Laguna Beach fought back again and had two game points but swing hitter Hilary Kyle couldn’t put the ball away.

The game turned into a battle of side outs with the score tied at 15. Poway was the first to break, committing two hitting errors to give Laguna Beach (22-2) the victory.

“I think that first game knocked the wind out of our sails,” Reis said.

Even so, Poway rallied to win the second game. The Titans trailed 6-0 and 7-2 before staging a comeback. Two hitting errors by Milling gave Laguna Beach an 11-10 lead. But Milling came back to score three points on kills during a five-point Poway run, including the game winner--a cross-court spike from the left side.

“The key was the second game,” said Laguna Beach Coach Mike Soylular. “They could have had the momentum, but they didn’t take advantage of it.”

After the second game, Laguna Beach just wore Poway down. The Titans, with just one starting senior, wilted in the fourth game. Leading 10-5, Laguna Beach rallied for a 13-10 lead. A kill by Wacholder, who had 32 for the match, gave Laguna Beach a 14-11 advantage. Poway then gave the Artists’ the victory with a match-ending hitting error. Milling finished with 33 kills to lead Poway.

“Laguna Beach just kept coming at us,” said Reis. “They were relentless. If we would have won tonight it would have been the biggest victory ever for Poway. We got a little closer, but I’m not satisfied.”