A Royal Crown in Sight After South Torrance Defeated

Individualism is well and good, but why fight the system--especially if you’re a member of the Royal High volleyball team.

The Highlanders graduated five of their six starters from last year’s Southern Section Division II runner-up squad, which would seem to call for at least one rebuilding year.

But what happens? Coach Bob Ferguson plugs in five new starters and Royal advances to the final again, for the sixth consecutive year.

South Torrance was the semifinal victim this year, falling, 15-10, 16-14, 15-10, Wednesday night at Mira Costa High.

Royal (17-3) will play Highland on Saturday for the Division II championship.

“It shows what kind of a program we have, that we can lose five starters and and make it back to the finals,” said Royal setter Josh White, the lone returning starter.

“I’m so proud of these guys who have come up and worked so hard. They’ve improved 200%.”

White, a 6-foot-1 senior, had 58 assists and orchestrated Royal’s complex attack.

That attack was the difference between the Highlanders and Spartans, indeed between Royal and most teams.

The Highlanders run a wide variety of formations and plays, with attackers approaching the net at all angles to confuse the defense.

“We try to run as many different combinations as possible,” White said. “It’s to distract the middle blockers, so they have no clue where I’m going with the ball. That way it frees everyone up to hit one on one.”

South Torrance (14-3), for instance, was arguably just as talented, athletic and tall as Royal. But Ferguson’s team was better-drilled, more versatile and more sure of itself in pressure situations.

In the second game, Royal gave up five consecutive points and trailed, 13-11.

South Torrance fans were stomping and screaming, Spartan players were in the throes of an adrenaline rush and Royal appeared vulnerable.

But the Royal players, who would appear relaxed if they won the lottery, kept their cool, executed and waited for South Torrance to make the mistakes.

Royal’s Scott Hambly hit one of his 15 kills to get Royal a crucial sideout.

South Torrance setter Noel Dourmerc made two poor sets, sandwiched around a kill by Highlander middle blocker Matt Olsen, and Royal led, 14-13.

Several serves later, Olsen put the game away with a one of his 17 kills.

Royal scored 11 consecutive points in the third game to take an 11-4 advantage, and cruised the rest of the way.