Royal Closes Out Saugus in Opener

Steve Russell had 13 kills while playing only two games and Petr Dusek recorded 28 assists for Royal High in a 15-0, 15-5, 15-8 victory over Saugus in the opening round of the Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball playoffs Friday night at Royal.

Garrett Herzer had nine kills, and Cam Dickson and Ryan Moberly each had seven for the fifth-seeded Highlanders (20-3), who lost to Esperanza in the division final last season.

Diraj Coats had 16 service points and six kills for Royal.

Royal, the Marmonte League champion, plays Quartz Hill in a second-round game Tuesday at a site to be determined. Quartz Hill defeated Thousand Oaks, 12-15, 16-14, 15-2, 15-13.

In other first-round matches:

Crescenta Valley d. Claremont, 15-7, 15-11, 15-6--Doug English had eight of his 16 kills in the first game and the Falcons (10-7) went on to sweep Claremont (14-4) in a Division I first-round match at Crescenta Valley.

English also had four aces. Pouya Bozorgchami had nine kills and five digs and Josh Misi had 37 assists and five aces for Crescenta Valley.

Newbury Park d. Temple City, 15-11, 15-4, 15-3--Mark Davis had 14 kills and five aces for the Panthers (18-5), who won a Division II first-round match at Newbury Park.

Davis notched three of his aces in the first game.

Collin McKeown added 10 kills, Robert Congelliere had seven kills and four blocks and Casey Patterson had 44 assists for the Panthers.

Campbell Hall d. Southwestern Academy, 15-2, 15-2, 15-7--The Vikings breezed in a Division III first-round match at Campbell Hall.

Jeff Erb had eight kills and Larry Cole had seven kills for Campbell Hall (15-1). Brian Davis had 12 assists.

Alex Wong had four kills and Max Subbotin had two kills for Southwestern (14-4).

Crespi d. Pilgrim, 15-3, 15-3, 15-5--James Spratt had 12 kills and Marcin Jagoda added five kills and two aces for the Celts (14-3), who needed only 50 minutes to win a Division III first-round match at Crespi.

Spratt also had three blocks and Jagoda had two aces.

Matt Miller had 20 assists for Crespi.

Harvard-Westlake d. Littlerock, 15-11, 15-9, 4-15, 11-15, 15-3--Chris Gorny had 24 kills and Marc Mailander added 12 kills and a school-record 11 aces but the Lobos (13-4) lost a Division I first-round match that lasted 2 1/2 hours at Littlerock.

Myles Meegen had 12 kills and 23 assists for Littlerock.