Harvard-Westlake Outdistanced in State Semifinals

Outhit, Outblocked, outpassed, outserved and then simply out.

Harvard-Westlake High was on the wrong end of several categories, including the final score, during a 15-11, 15-7, 15-9 loss to Bishop Montgomery in a girls’ volleyball state Division III semifinal Tuesday night at Bishop Montgomery.

Harvard-Westlake lost in every possible way, including a chance to win its second state title since 1995.

“We surpassed all expectations this season but it hurts to go out like this,” said Anne Jakle, a senior outside hitter, as she tapped one of the silver medals the Wolverines received for finishing second in the Southern Regional.

“I have two of these now. I didn’t want another one.”

The teams have played several times the last few years, including three of the last four state semifinals.

In 1995, the Wolverines defeated Bishop Montgomery en route to winning the first state title in school history. In 1996, Bishop Montgomery returned the favor, beating the Wolverines in the semifinals before winning the state championship.

“I’m feeling a little bit of deja vu right now,” said Jakle, the only Harvard-Westlake player left from the 1996 team.

The Wolverines were feeling many other things, none positive.

Like the regular-season match between the teams, the result of which was a four-game victory for Bishop Montgomery, poor passing plagued Harvard-Westlake.

Bishop Montgomery, on the other hand, excelled defensively even though three of their starters are 5 feet 5 or shorter.

“Defense wins,” Coach Kim Willeman of Bishop Montgomery said. “All you have to do is keep the ball in play. We play really well against big, tall teams, we just have to play fast.”

Bishop Montgomery (27-6) had eight blocks, six by junior Katie Olsovsky. Olsovsky, who at 6-2, is the only player for the Knights over 6 feet tall, had 19 kills and only three hitting errors.

Harvard-Westlake (21-6) did not have a block in the match.

Hedder Ilustre, an outside hitter for Bishop Montgomery who is considering offers from Cal State Northridge and George Mason, had 13 kills and 18 digs.

Jakle finished with 10 kills for Harvard-Westlake, which won the Southern Section Division III-A title.

Bishop Montgomery, which won the Division III-AA title and will play the winner of the El Molino-Enterprise match for the state title on Saturday, needed just more than 75 minutes to defeat Harvard-Westlake.

“I was expecting a bigger battle, but we served tough and that takes people out of their game,” Willeman said. “We did our homework and we knew who to serve to.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Southern California Regional Finals

DIVISION I

Newport Harbor def. Marina 15-9, 16-14, 15-7

DIVISION II

Santa Margarita def. La Jolla 15-2, 15-2, 8-15, 15-7

DIVISION III

Bishop Montgomery def. Harvard-Westlake 15-11, 15-7, 15-9

DIVISION IV

Cerritos Valley Christian def. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 15-10, 15-3, 15-3

DIVISION V

San Diego Francis Parker def. Pasadena Poly 15-10, 15-5, 15-13