Long Beach Poly Has Right Stuff

A smaller, scrappier Long Beach Poly team swept past a bigger, athletic San Clemente squad, 15-8, 16-14, to win the Division I championship match in the Dave Mohs Memorial tournament Monday at Edison High.

“This team doesn’t fit any mold,” said Poly Coach Jeff Eyanson, who has no starter taller than 5 feet 10. “They play with a lot of drive and hustle and just go at it.”

Tournament MVP Jennifer Randall, a 5-9 junior outside hitter, had 15 kills and seven digs to lead the Jackrabbits, who rallied from a five-point deficit in Game 1 to score 12 consecutive points and seize momentum.

Poly had a 13-9 lead in Game 2 before San Clemente, the top-ranked team in Orange County, rallied behind 6-1 junior Katy Daly, and all-tournament selections Christina Vick, a 6-1 middle blocker, and Lauren Boissevain, a 6-foot junior setter.

A kill by Boissevain gave the Tritons a game point at 14-13, but then Randall spiked for a kill from the right side for a side out. Then Poly’s Cynthia Buggs had a kill from the left side to make it 14-14, and two San Clemente hitting errors ended the match and started the Jackrabbits’ celebration.

“This could work to our advantage down the road,” San Clemente Coach Rob O’Rear said. “Our kids will remember what it looked like to watch them cheer.

“They played better than us tonight. For us, it was a passing error here, a hitting error there and our kids started to lose a little confidence and then they caught fire. They’re a great team.”

And the two could meet again in the playoffs. Poly is fifth-ranked in the Southern Section Division I-AA poll and San Clemente is ninth-ranked.

In the Division II final:

St. Margaret’s wins--The Tartans weren’t in the original 16-team field, but they were a late addition and the defending Southern Section Division V-AA champions defeated Morgan (Utah) in the final, 15-2, 15-7.

Sophomore Polly Bendush had six kills and all-tournament selection Monique Kettler, a 6-1 senior middle blocker, added five for St. Margaret’s, which had seven aces to highlight its tough serving that frustrated Morgan throughout the match.

“I had to beg for us to get into this tournament,” St. Margaret’s Coach Susie Maga said. “I kept calling and calling and they finally let us in.”

Mara Balak had all five of her kills in the second game, helping St. Margaret’s pull away.

Balak’s cousin Erin, a junior setter, had 16 assists. Erin Balak started for Los Angeles Brentwood last season, but transferred to St. Margaret’s, where her father is the new principal.

St. Margaret’s was playing without starting junior middle blocker Kylie Hill, who will likely be out for the season after undergoing surgery on both knees. Freshman Sara Kettler, Monique’s sister, is taking Hill’s place.

“This was great,” Maga said. “Sure we’ll come back . . . if they’ll let us in again.”

In nonleague volleyball:

Aliso Niguel 3, Estancia 0--Lindsay Schafer had seven kills and setter Julia Pederson had 23 assists for host Aliso Niguel (5-0) in a 15-7, 15-2, 15-5 victory.