Royal Sweeps Mistake-Prone Foothill Team : High school volleyball: Highlanders extend Southern Section record winning streak to 42, move into Division II final against Esperanza.

Defeating the Royal High boys’ volleyball team is a snap if you can avoid a few simple things: mistakes.

According to Foothill Coach Chuck Cutenese, anything less than perfection will not cut it against the Highlanders. Cutenese passionately expounded on his view following Royal’s 15-13, 15-9, 15-12 defeat of Foothill on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division II playoffs at Simi Valley High.

“It’s been our characteristic all season long to make a lot of mistakes, fall behind early and then fight our way out at the end,” Cutenese said. “But you just can’t do that against a team as good as Royal. You just can’t make errors.

“They put us too far down to climb back.”

Royal, champion of the Marmonte League, improved to 20-0. Foothill, which finished second in the Empire League, ends its season 14-3.

The Highlanders ran their record section winning streak to an eye-popping 42 games. Royal’s last loss came in a 1991 section title game.

The Highlanders will play Esperanza in the Division II championship match Saturday night. Although somewhat hard to believe, Coach Bob Ferguson thinks his team is yet to play its best match.

“Well, the kids did some neat things, and we responded when we had to, but we really didn’t put it all together,” Ferguson said. “We are a team that won’t let you get away with mistakes. We did a good job but we know we can do more.”

The Knights know so firsthand. Their serving game was inconsistent, they did not capitalize on sideout opportunities and their defense was porous.

Led by senior outside hitters Jason Hughes and Steve Hodge, the Highlanders scored five straight points in the first game to turn a 7-6 deficit into a 11-7 lead. Royal also scored the last three points to win the game, 15-13.

The 6-foot-7 Hughes, who is headed for Northridge, took charge in the second game as Royal scored seven straight points to lead, 8-1.

Foothill closed to a point (8-7) but the Highlanders scored seven of the game’s next nine points to win, 15-9. The third game was the Knights’ best--but it still was not enough. A block by sophomore Highlander ouside hitter Scott Hambly ended the game, 15-12, and Foothill’s season.

“They put up a good fight,” said Hughes, who had a team-high 14 kills. “But they made a lot of mistakes.”

Said Foothill outside hitter Ben Phillips: “We’ve never played a team with their hitting ability. Man, they are good.”