STATE GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Oilers Lose Momentum in Final : Division II: Huntington Beach struggles after taking first game, and St. Francis wins its second championship in a row.

Huntington Beach Coach Rocky Ciarelli knew his team had to play aggressively Saturday if it was to be successful in the State Division II girls’ volleyball final.

The Oilers started out that way. But unfortunately for Ciarelli, they couldn’t maintain it, and defending champion Mountain View St. Francis went on to a 10-15, 15-9, 15-11, 15-11 victory at Cal State Fullerton.

After winning the first game, the Oilers struggled the rest of the way.

“We got outplayed,” Ciarelli said. “They were much more aggressive. I didn’t have (my team) ready to play aggressively.”

Huntington Beach took a 6-1 lead on three aces by senior Jennifer Oslin before St. Francis (38-3) pulled even behind a kill and two blocks by Elizabeth Jones.

Junior middle blocker Melissa Wendt carried the Oilers the rest of the game, with seven kills, as Huntington Beach fell behind, 9-7, before a 6-0 run put the game out of reach. Back-to-back kills by sophomore Dana Atkinson and Wendt finished it for the Oilers.

Junior outside hitter Jamey Scritchfield led the Lancers in Game 2, with six kills and an ace as the Lancers tied the match. Trailing, 4-3, St. Francis ran off 12 of the final 17 points, including the last six. Megan O’Brien had four kills in the game for the Lancers. Junior Jill Meyers had three kills and two blocks for Huntington Beach.

St. Francis took a 13-6 lead in the third game before Huntington Beach rallied. The Oilers pulled to within 14-11 before Shelly Glennon’s third kill of the game ended it. Wendt had eight kills for the Oilers.

“They just picked it up a little, and we didn’t,” Wendt said. “We never really got in our rhythm. I don’t think we were playing our best.”

Huntington Beach fell behind, 5-0, and trailed, 7-3, in the fourth game before making its final run.

The Oilers took advantage of eight St. Francis errors to tie it, 10-10. But the Lancers scored the last three points, including an O’Brien kill that clinched a second consecutive State title.

“This one was a lot easier in terms of pressure,” St. Francis Coach Dave Gambelin said. “Our experience helped us a lot. It made a big difference.”

Wendt had a game-high 23 kills, and 13 digs. Meyers had 10 kills and Mindy Adam added 27 assists and 15 digs for Huntington Beach.

O’Brien had 21 kills and 17 digs, Scritchfield 13 kills and 14 digs and Jones 11 kills and 10 digs for St. Francis.