Barons Top Vikings in Boys’ Volleyball

Fountain Valley, ranked third in the county, survived several Marina rallies and held off the seventh-ranked Vikings, 11-15, 15-7, 15-13, 9-15, 15-6 in a Sunset League boys’ volleyball match Tuesday at Fountain Valley.

Nate Hagstrom had 39 kills for the Barons (7-2, 5-0), including five straight in the fifth game that helped Fountain Valley build a 12-2 lead.

Marina closed to within 14-6, but a cross-court kill by Hagstrom, his ninth of the game, ended it and gave the Barons sole possession of first place.

“Nate’s knees were bothering him at the beginning,” Baron Coach Todd Hanson, “but the middle started freeing up at the end and he [took advantage].

Fountain Valley middle blocker Russell Holmes had 20 kills for the Barons, who took a 12-6 lead in the pivotal third game before Marina came back to tie the score at 13-13.

The Vikings appeared poised to take the lead, but Fountain Valley’s Joe Bernard played a ball off the ceiling and Hagstrom blocked an ensuing Marina spike attempt for a side out. Hagstrom then had a kill and Bernard a block to give the Barons a 2-1 lead in games.

Marina (11-2, 4-1) scored 10 of the final 11 points in Game 4 to win, 15-9, and send the match to a fifth game.

Steffin Rangel finished with 35 kills and 12 blocks for Marina.