SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : VOLLEYBALL

Artists Beat Capistrano Valley Again

Hilary Kyle had never seen a Laguna Beach girls’ volleyball team lose to Capistrano Valley--a fact that concerned Kyle, the Artists’ sole senior, as the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs opened Thursday night.

It turned out to be needless worry as the third-seeded Artists breezed by visiting Capistrano Valley, 15-5, 16-14, 15-3.

“As long as I’ve been here, they’ve never beaten us, so I knew they’d be out to get us,” said Kyle, whose 25 kills paved the way for the Artists.

For Capistrano Valley, it was a frustrating end to a see-saw season. It looked as if the Cougars would tie the match at one game apiece when they took a 13-9 lead in Game 2, but the Artists dipped into their reserves. Laguna Beach pulled to 14-12 and fought off three game points before they drew even on a Lisa Ravensberg ace, and won it on a Kyle kill.

“What can you do? You play your hardest, and whatever happens, happens,” Capistrano Valley setter Beth Burkholder said.

In the quick Game 3, the Cougars mustered their few points on two aces and a net violation by Laguna Beach.

But it would have been difficult for any opponent not to be shellshocked by the Artists’ comeback.

“It breaks the momentum, it totally demoralizes a team,” Kyle said.

Laguna Beach Coach Mike Soylular credited setter Christy Collisson and Kyle with strong performances and “our passing and ball control were good,” he said.

It was the third time third-ranked Laguna Beach (13-5) defeated the fifth-ranked Cougars (10-6) this season. Last year in playoffs, the Artists won their quarterfinal meeting.

Capistrano Valley’s Stef Wichmann and Lena Malinowski--the players Soylular thought would give his team more trouble--each had eight kills.