SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION III VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS : Campbell Hall Falls Fast to Santa Ynez

It took just over an hour for middle blocker George Romaine to lead top-seeded Santa Ynez High to a 15-5, 15-8, 15-4 victory over Campbell Hall in a semifinal match of the Southern Section Division III boys’ volleyball playoffs Wednesday night.

Romaine, a 6-foot-7 senior who is headed to Pepperdine, had 25 kills, nine blocks and four digs for the Pirates (21-0).

Middle blocker Dylan Herrick had 10 kills, six blocks, three digs and three aces for Campbell Hall (16-4) and outside hitter Eric Hassan added 12 kills, four digs and four blocks. But an inability to contain Romaine did in the Vikings.

The Vikings tied the score in the first game, 1-1, on ace by Hassan, but it was a case of too much Romaine for the Vikings as the setter-hitter combination of Mike Shackelford-to-Romaine translated into a 15-5 victory.

Santa Ynez took a 4-0 lead in the second game with Romaine accounting for three of the points on kills.

The Vikings cut the deficit to 7-4 on a Herrick kill, but consecutive aces by Romaine stopped the rally.

Outside hitter Andy Witt followed with three kills to fuel a 15-8 victory.

“It’s got to be frustrating playing against us,” Witt said. “All they have to do is put the ball in the air and we’re going to crush it.”

The third game started slowly, but Romaine changed that with an emphatic kill to send the Pirates on their way. Santa Ynez led, 3-2, before taking a 7-2 lead.

Campbell Hall trimmed the deficit to 8-4, but could draw no closer. The Pirates closed out the game--and the match--with a 7-0 run.