PREP GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Laguna Beach Scrambles Past Santa Margarita

Leslie Christen of Laguna Beach jumped and sent the ball zig-zagging around a wall of Santa Margarita players to win a first-round match in the Southern Section Division I girls’ volleyball playoffs.

Christen, a senior middle blocker, had nine of her team-high 15 kills--including the game-winner--in the fifth game to lead the Artists to a 15-9, 5-15, 10-15, 15-9, 15-12 victory at Laguna Beach High School in one of the toughest matches of the first round.

“I just knew that I had to try my hardest to win; my whole family was here,” said Christen, who will lead the Artists (13-2) against Dana Hills (11-6) Saturday in the second round.

Thursday’s match featured two of the county’s top teams--Laguna Beach is ranked fifth and Santa Margarita (15-2) is sixth.

The Artists trailed, 13-12, in the final game before Christen came up with a kill for a sideout. They tied the score on an Eagle hitting error before setter Carolyn Kittell dumped the ball over the net for another point and Christen had her match-winner.

Santa Margarita led in games, 2-1, and jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the critical fourth game. The Artists scored eight unanswered points, however, to gain momentum and force a fifth game.