Royal Eighty-Sixes Westlake

Some matches during Royal High’s streak have been breezy, three-game sweeps that are done in the 45-50 minute range.

Others have been five-game, nail-gnawing, creeping-up-on-three-hour types.

The Highlanders’ match Friday night at Westlake was somewhere in between--neither a foregone conclusion they would win nor a scintillating match for the ages.

In the end, it was the same result as so many of the others, Royal winning its 86th consecutive Marmonte League match, 17-15, 15-8, 15-9 over Westlake.

Scott Motzel had 20 kills and eight blocks, and Royal (11-1, 9-0 in league play) fended off another potential threat to its league supremacy.

The Highlanders, ranked No. 2 in the region by The Times, used their superior height to control the Warriors (10-2, 5-2), out-blocking them, 19-7.

The Highlanders also closed the book on a long week. On Wednesday, they defeated cross-town rival Simi Valley in a match that went three games, but was emotionally taxing on the Highlanders, who needed more than 15 points to win two of the games.

On Thursday, Coach Bob Ferguson canceled practice after one hour because four of the Highlanders, including setter Bart Kowalski, were suffering from flu-like symptoms.

But Friday, all went well for Royal, which eighty-sixed Westlake.

“It’s been an amazing run,” Ferguson said. “I’m proud of the kids. We’ve changed lineups a bunch of times, but we’re good. We’re definitely good.”

Westlake, ranked No. 8 in the region, wasn’t too bad.

Wade Carr had 11 kills for the Warriors, who led the first game, 15-14, but could not close out.

Guided by first-year Coach Jon Roberts, a two-time All-American at UC Santa Barbara, and assistant coach Larry Rundle, a two-time All-American at UCLA, Westlake is on the way up.

“If we continue to play like that, we’re going to be fine the rest of the way,” Roberts said. “You’re never happy to lose, 3-0, but the good news is we can still improve.”

So will Royal.

Motzel, who began the season at middle blocker and was shifted to opposite hitter for a few matches, looked extremely effective at his old position.

“He belongs in the middle,” Ferguson said.

And the streak goes on.