Westlake Pays Penalty in Loss

Westlake Coach Chris Rundle cost her team game point with a delay-of-game penalty in the second game in the State Division II girls’ volleyball semifinals Tuesday night at Huntington Beach High, but that was only part of the problem for the Warriors.

Westlake also could not overcome the experienced and varied attack of Huntington Beach, which won, 15-13, 15-9, 15-9.

In seven playoff matches, the Oilers (23-2) have dropped just one game--in the Southern Section Division II-AA final, when they defeated Santa Barbara.

“I thought our girls played great. I’m so proud of them,” Rundle said. “This should be the [State] finals because Southern California is the power in volleyball.”

Westlake (18-4), which lost in the Southern Section Division II-A final to Santa Margarita, accomplished one goal, surpassing Santa Margarita in the State tournament.

“We made our goal, we’re above them,” Rundle said.

Lori Daedelow had six kills, two blocks and two aces to help Huntington Beach win the first game.

“To me, she’s an amazing athlete and she’s kind of overlooked on this team,” said Huntington Beach co-coach Rocky Ciarelli. “I think they kind of came into it with a game plan [of], ‘Let’s leave her alone,’ and you can’t do that.”

Facing game point in the second game, Rundle dawdled while making a substitution and was charged with delay of game, an automatic timeout. But the Warriors had no timeouts left, so the official hit the Warriors with a red card, giving Huntington Beach game point.

Westlake took a 6-2 lead in the third game but Lauren Wilson served nine consecutive points to give Huntington Beach an 11-6 lead the Warriors could not overcome.