GIRLS’ STATE VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Harvard-Westlake Victimized by Inconsistency

The Harvard-Westlake girls’ volleyball team can take solace in having advanced deeper into the state playoffs than any local team.

Bakersfield Centennial High ended Westlake’s run by rallying for a 3-15, 15-11, 15-7, 15-7 victory in a quarterfinal match on Saturday night.

“The tendency for us is to be inconsistent,” said Westlake’s Amanda Selby, who had 15 kills. “It’s kind of ironic; that’s what haunted us all season.”

The Wolverines, who finished 13-6, won the first game and appeared poised to gain an easy victory.

But Centennial, a school that is only two years old, is not your average opponent.

Centennial (29-6), seeded second in Division III, starts five sophomores and a junior.

Last season, as a junior varsity team, it advanced to the Division IV state final and lost to Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana.

“They’re definitely a strong team, and they’ll be good the next couple of years,” Selby said.

After winning the first game, the Wolverines struggled to regain their form.

Centennial jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the third game, and was not threatened.

“I think our girls were afraid at the beginning,” Centennial coach Brooke Roberts said. “We needed to find out why and take care of it, which we obviously did.”

Lesley Coben and Lindsey McNeil each had eight kills for Westlake.

Janae Henry had 18 kills for Centennial. Sarah Slayton had 45 assists.