SOUTHERN SECTION GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Edison Has an Easy Time Defeating Dana Hills

Edison Coach Dave Mohs prepared for the worst, but the fourth-seeded Chargers unexpectedly cruised past Dana Hills, 15-12, 15-7, 15-3, in a Southern Section Division I girls’ volleyball quarterfinal Tuesday at Dana Hills High.

“I’m very surprised at the outcome,” Mohs said. “We were ready for a five-game marathon.”

But Dana Hills (20-5), the South Coast League champion, struggled with its passing and just about everything else, and Sunset League champion Edison (18-1) took advantage.

Edison outside hitter Erin McCown had 17 kills and setter Jill Butts had eight kills and 31 assists for the Chargers, who advanced to Thursday’s semifinals. They will play top-seeded Newport Harbor, which defeated Agoura in three games.

“We lost to Dana Hills in two straight games at the Orange County Championships,” Mohs said. “But we didn’t have our two middle blockers at that one, so they keyed on our outside hitters so much it was like we were hitting into redwoods.”

There was no such problem Tuesday. With Edison middle blockers Jennifer Porterfield and Kelli Liniger in the lineup and combining for five kills and four blocks, it kept the Dolphins honest.

Outside hitter Shelby Clemens had five of her seven kills in Game 3, to help Edison close out the match, 15-3.

Dana Hills’ Jenny Kessy, who has orally committed to USC, tried to keep the Dolphins close with her team-high 11 kills. When Dana Hills passed well, their middle attack also worked with middle blocker Tricia Jenssen chipping in with eight kills.

“I thought we had an outstanding game plan,” Dana Hills Coach Mike Hurlbut said. “But you can count on two hands the number of times it happened. We just did not keep the ball in play.”