Heralds’ Unlikely Run Ends

Whittier Christian’s success against higher-seeded teams ended abruptly Tuesday night when the Heralds fell to host Los Angeles Marymount, 15-3, 13-15, 15-8, 15-6, in the first round of the Division IV girls’ volleyball state tournament.

The Heralds (20-9), who were unseeded in the Southern Section Division IV-A tournament, beat second-seeded Sierra Madre Maranatha and top-seeded Mary Star to qualify for the state championships. But they did not have enough in the tank to survive the encounter with a bigger and more active Marymount (25-4).

One of the reasons for Marymount’s success was the play of 5-11 outside hitter Christina Hinds (23 kills) and 5-11 setter Haley Jorgensborg (14 kills, 12 assists, three blocks), who dominated the front line and kept Whittier Christian’s Joelle Sagehorn (nine kills) in check.

“Those two hitters are the best we’ve seen so far this year,” said Whittier Christian Coach Lisa Bloom. “If you take them out, then we’re still in the game. But they killed us.”

Marymount took the first game with little resistance behind Hinds’ four kills and two service aces. The three points scored by Whittier Christian came off Marymount hitting errors.

In the second game, Whittier Christian took a 14-2 lead and eventually won, but it came at a high price. Marymount refused to concede the game, fighting back and scoring 11 straight points.

“We started to let down with that lead,” Bloom said. “It affected us because we were frustrated going into the third game.”

The Heralds rallied to tie the third game, 8-8, but Marymount won seven consecutive points and carried the momentum through the final game.