PREP ROUNDUP : Cougars Go Inside, Beat the Tritons

Capistrano Valley, ranked 10th in Orange County, took the inside track to the South Coast League boys’ volleyball championship by defeating fifth-ranked San Clemente, 15-8, 1-15, 15-7, 7-15, 15-5, Tuesday at San Clemente High.

Mike Tully had 22 kills and Andy Matlaf added 19 for the Cougars (5-4, 3-0 in league), who took advantage of numerous San Clemente errors to take a 9-1 lead in Game 5. After 18 consecutive side outs and Capistrano Valley leading, 12-5, Brad Leach had a block and a kill to set up Scott Lister’s match-winning spike.

Capistrano Valley’s Chris Seiffert had 61 assists. He also set a balanced attack that featured middle blocker Omar Rawi, who had 16 kills and four blocks, and Lister, who had eight kills.

Lister, who is recovering from a knee injury, gave the Cougars a big lift. Capistrano Valley Coach Darren Utterback said Tuesday’s match was the first time Lister, a senior, played “an entire match at 100% this season.”

San Clemente (7-3, 2-1) wasn’t at full speed because 6-foot-5 junior setter Brandon Taliaferro, a second-team All-Southern Section Division I selection last season, was on the sideline nursing a shoulder injury.

Mike LaDue filled in and had 61 assists. Outside hitters Gabriel Gardner (29 kills) and Corin Bemus (24 kills) had solid performances, but they combined for only five kills in the final game as the Tritons’ rally fell short.

San Clemente Coach Mike Hurlbut said he was concerned about his team’s concentration level before the match.

“Capistrano Valley wanted this match and they’ve been seething since Friday for this one,” Hurlbut said. “Usually, we’re good about our pregame focus. But today, we didn’t have that.”