How Sweet It Is as Royal Defeats Buena in 4 Games

They ate homemade chocolate chip cookies before the match and then gave their opponent candy as a good-luck gesture.

But the sweetest part for members of the Royal High girls’ volleyball team was a 15-2, 14-16, 15-12, 15-11 victory Tuesday night over Buena in a wild-card match of the Southern Section Division I playoffs at Royal High.

Despite some sour play, the Highlanders defeated a pesky Buena team that kept the ball off the ground and served with efficiency.

“We really had to prove ourselves out there,” said Carrie Swartz, who had 19 kills, including six in the fourth game for the Highlanders.

“This is the greatest feeling.”

The Highlanders (13-4) can’t dwell too long on the victory.

They have to travel to defending Division I champion Newport Harbor for a first-round match Thursday.

“We’ve got to have everybody on track when we play them,” said Bob Ferguson, whose last playoff victory as the girls’ coach at Royal came against Newport Harbor in 1992.

Royal started strong, holding Buena (10-6) to four kills in a first-game victory.

But the Bulldogs, who had to win their last four Channel League matches and an additional match against Hueneme to determine the third league playoff representative, had their chances.

They built leads of 9-1 and 14-10 and eked out the second game.

The Bulldogs jumped to an 8-0 lead in the third game, before Royal came back behind five kills by Michelle Lampkin (11 total).

“It was hard to let that one go,” Buena Coach Jimmy Miranda said.

“We didn’t roll over and die after that, but it definitely hurt us.”

The Bulldogs were led by three players. Kelly Thompson had 11 kills, Nicole Greathouse added eight blocks, and Micaela Miller contributed six aces.

In the fourth game, Royal countered with some serving prowess of its own.

Heidi Ferguson served three aces, including a pair that helped erase Buena’s 7-4 lead.

Swartz took care of the offensive agenda for the Highlanders.

“I think our girls played with great determination, even when we got a little down,” Bob Ferguson said.