Huntington Beach Escapes in Five

After San Clemente won the first two games, Huntington Beach rallied to win, 13-15, 9-15, 15-4, 16-14, 16-14, in a nonleague boys’ volleyball match Wednesday at San Clemente High.

Huntington Beach (5-0), the two-time defending Southern Section Division I champions, was led by returning starters Jeremy Bart, who had 29 kills, and Jody Cook-Fisher, who had 20.

San Clemente (4-1) led, 12-4, in Game 4 before Huntington Beach rallied to send the match to a fifth game. The Tritons also held a match-point at 14-13 in Game 5, but couldn’t put it away.

Bart, who has signed with Stanford, had nine kills in Game 5 to cap Huntington Beach’s comeback.

USC signee Gabe Gardner, who had 43 kills, and Corin Bemus, who had 27 kills, each posted career-highs for the Tritons. San Clemente’s Rick Bruce added 20 kills and setter Brandon Taliaferro had 90 assists, seven blocks and seven kills.

Huntington Beach had a balanced attack that included Evan Hook (12 kills) and Sean Tucker (11 kills). When the Oilers lost the first two games, Huntington Beach Coach Rocky Ciarelli changed his lineup by inserting sophomore setter Dennis Masuda.

“When we got behind they knew they had to step it up,” Ciarelli said. “A lot of these kids are used to playing in the big matches so I think that made a difference.”