PREP VOLLEYBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : San Clemente Faces Huge Test in Final

San Clemente’s topsy-turvy season will conclude tonight with the Southern Section boys’ volleyball Division I final at Cypress College.

The Tritons have endured injuries and illness, high expectations and underachievement. But San Clemente reached the pinnacle of its season Wednesday, pulling off an improbable five-game upset of second-seeded Manhattan Beach Mira Costa.

San Clemente is playing in its first final since 1981, when Coach Mike Hurlbut was a sophomore at the school. That season, San Clemente lost to rival Laguna Beach in the final.

This time, heavily favored and top-seeded Los Angeles Loyola (19-1) is waiting for San Clemente (17-5). The match starts at 7.

The Cubs defeated the Tritons in four games at San Clemente in a nonleague match this season and there is every reason to believe the same result is likely.

Loyola features Lee Bennett, Patrick Klein and Brad Walsh.

“They’re strong and balanced,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “They look like they have six football players out there. They’re big.”

San Clemente will rely on its Big Three--Gabe Gardner, Corin Bemus and setter Brandon Taliaferro.

Gardner, a 6-foot-9 outside hitter who has signed a letter of intent with USC, has picked up his game a notch in the playoffs. He had 39 kills and nine blocks in the Tritons’ semifinal victory and he is one of the section’s most dominating players.

Bemus, a 6-5 outside hitter whom Hurlbut said was out sick last week, is the team’s top passer, but might be less than full strength. He has shared the bulk of the offensive load with Gardner.

Taliaferro, who has played only three matches since returning from shoulder surgery that sidelined him for six weeks, looked sharp in the semifinals. The Tritons will need another big match from him for any chance of an upset.

Middle blockers Rick Bruce and Chris Boden and outside hitter Chris Katke have also played key roles in the Tritons’ run.

“In February, I thought we could make it this far,” Hurlbut said, “but in March, we were just scrambling to make the playoffs [San Clemente finished second to Capistrano Valley in league].

“We played great [in the semifinals] but we haven’t played our best yet. We’ve got one more to go.”

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Top-seeded Tustin and third-seeded Calvary Chapel will play for the Division II championship at Cypress College at 4:30 p.m.

Tustin (19-1), which won the Golden West League title, is used to tangling with Division I teams in its former league (Sea View), and this is the farthest they have advanced in the playoffs.

Outside hitters Curtis Jackson and Donnie Rafter are as good as any in the county and the balance they provide gives Tustin the edge.

Calvary Chapel (15-3) won the Division III championship last season and is appearing in its fourth section final in the past five seasons.

The Eagles are led by middle blocker Robert Schildts, setter Matt Wright and outside hitter Aaron Fountain.