Wolverines Are Sweep-Hearts : High school volleyball: Harvard-Westlake whips Del Mar in three games to win first state title in school history.

They were a week into their season and an ocean away from home when members of the Harvard-Westlake High girls’ volleyball team realized how far they could go.

On the final night of the Kahuku Invitational in Hawaii, the players gathered on the beach, looked up at the stars and dreamed.

On Saturday, they looked up at the scoreboard and saw they were the Division III state champions, thanks to a 15-10, 15-2, 15-2 victory over San Jose Del Mar at Cal State Fullerton.

Several of the Wolverines’ trademarks were present during the match.

They showed a balanced offense, with four players recording at least five kills.

They were devastating at the net on defense and outblocked Del Mar, 10-1.

And, as has been the norm, the Wolverines (27-1) didn’t take long to win, needing 57 minutes to dismiss the Dons (33-7).

In the process, they became the first Harvard-Westlake team to win a state title.

“We’ll never forget this, ever,” said setter Jenni Kriste, who was named most valuable player of the match. “That’s what you always want, is to remember it with happiness.”

It’s tough to be unhappy with a sweep.

The Wolverines’ only speed bump came in the first game, as the Dons took a 9-8 lead behind five kills by Sara Bronson.

But Bronson, who will play for University of the Pacific next year, gradually wore down because of Harvard-Westlake’s relentless defense at the net.

“Their block was always there,” said Bronson, who finished with 13 kills but had eight errors. “I had nowhere to go.”

The Wolverines could go to just about anybody.

Christine Bohle had nine kills and showed no sign of a pinkie dislocation she suffered in Tuesday’s semifinal victory over Bishop Montgomery.

Lesley Coben and Bettina Korek each had six kills. Malaika Naulls added five kills and five blocks.

“I have every option,” said Kriste, who had 21 assists and kept the ball flowing to the middle and outside. “I can go anywhere and they can hit anything.”

The Wolverines almost hit themselves into the state championship record book.

They had 32 kills and a crisp .300 hitting percentage, barely missing the Division III record of .303 set by Francis Parker in 1986.

Just the same, the Wolverines posted the ninth-best hitting percentage in all divisions in State championship history.

Del Mar finished with only 23 kills and had 26 errors.

Del Mar was especially ineffective in the second game, which lasted 12 minutes. The Dons committed nine errors and had six kills, three by Bronson.

“We knew [Bronson] was their big hitter, so when she was in the front row, we just sat there waiting for her,” Coben said.

Even the Harvard-Westlake students, many of whom attended, were winners.

Headmaster Thomas Hudnut promised a day off from school for the entire student body if the Wolverines won the state title.

It is an appropriate reward for the most-successful season in Harvard-Westlake volleyball history, which also included a Southern Section Division II title, a fifth consecutive Mission League championship and titles in three regular-season tournaments.

The Wolverines almost didn’t want it to end.

“It’s so weird,” Kriste said. “We’ve been playing together for so long.”

Said Coach Jess Quiroz: “Like I’ve said from Day One, we were in for the greatest ride ever.”