Crespi Needs 9 Years, 3 Hours to Defeat Harvard-Westlake

The nine-year wait was almost worth it.

Crespi High defeated Harvard-Westlake for the first time since 1989, 15-13, 10-15, 15-8, 14-16, 15-11, in a Mission League boys’ volleyball match that seemed to last that long--almost three hours, actually--Tuesday night at Harvard-Westlake.

James Spratt delivered a career-high 30 kills for the Celts (9-1, 6-1 in league play), who moved past Loyola for a one-half game lead in the Mission League.

“This is huge,” Spratt said. “Harvard and Loyola are always the two biggest powers in the Mission League, and Crespi has never gotten that much respect because we always finish in third or fourth place. Now we’re showing we can play with them.”

The Celts almost played around too much and had to fend off a late charge by Harvard-Westlake (5-3, 3-2), which pulled to within 12-10 in the fifth game after trailing, 12-1.

But Spratt had three kills in the closing stages of the match, which ended on a block by setter Matt Miller.

“It’s the biggest win for the program,” said third-year Crespi Coach Alvin Lamarre, whose team lost the fourth game after leading, 11-5.

“We could have folded in the fifth game after the heartbreak in the fourth, but we showed a lot of character.”

Harvard-Westlake was without 6-foot-7 outside hitter Billy Strickland, who tore ligaments in his left ankle two weeks ago against Loyola and is out for the season.

The Wolverines were also rusty. Because of spring break, they had not played a match since a four-game loss to Fountain Valley on March 25. At practice last Friday, only four players showed up.

“We basically said, ‘we haven’t practiced, but let’s get out there,’ ” Harvard-Westlake Coach Jess Quiroz said. “I think we’ll be ready the next time we play them.”

Crespi wasn’t full strength either. Outside hitter Kevin Scully, a drummer in a local rock band, hurt his back last Friday while moving his drum set.

Scully had 10 kills and had to be massaged several times on the bench throughout the match.

“We couldn’t play like we wanted to because of his back,” Lamarre said. “The kid just sucked it up all night.”

Jon Katz had 30 kills and William Curtis added 29 for Harvard-Westlake, which relied on both during the emotional fourth-game comeback.

But Crespi, which looked smooth in winning the first and third games, had too many weapons.

Marcin Jagoda had 18 kills, Taylor Steadman had 13 kills and Jonathan Bird had 10 kills and six blocks.