PREP ROUNDUP : Calvary Chapel Rallies to Win, Clinches League Volleyball Title

Calvary Chapel swept the final three games to stay undefeated and clinch the Olympic League volleyball title by beating visiting Whittier Christian, 13-15, 5-15, 15-8, 15-8, 15-9.

The Eagles (14-0, 10-0) let a 13-10 lead slip away in the first game, when Whittier Christian came back with five straight points.

The Heralds took their momentum into the second game, going on runs of five and six points to take an 11-3 lead. Calvary Chapel committed four serving errors, three ball-handling errors and four hitting errors.

But the Eagles recovered in the third, coming back from a 4-2 deficit to tie, then staved off Whittier Christian’s rally, holding the Heralds at 9-8 and scoring the next six points.

The Eagles took a 9-2 lead in the fourth game then let the Heralds (14-2, 8-2) come to within 10-8 before edging ahead to take the game.

In the fifth game, the Eagles went up, 10-2, then sat at 12-2 while the Heralds scored seven unanswered points to come within three, 12-9. Finally, Steve LeFevre and Aaron Fountain killed the ball and LeFevre combined with Jason Mandall to block Ryan McGuyre for the game and the match.

“We’ve played (Whittier Christian) four times this year,” Calvary Chapel Coach Chuck Wright said. “It’s hard to beat a team four times. And we’re in a slump; it’s been a long season. But the guys decided they wanted it.”

Senior Philip Schildts led the Eagles with 31 kills; his younger brother Robert contributed 20. LeFevre led both teams with three solo blocks and two block assists. Tim Willey led the Heralds with 19 kills.