Valencia Is Getting Ahead From Behind

The Valencia High boys’ volleyball team has grown accustomed to matches like this.

That might be why Valencia was able to come from behind in a 15-13, 6-15, 6-15, 15-11, 15-12 victory over Santa Monica on Wednesday night in a Southern Section Division I semifinal at Hart High that took nearly three hours.

Valencia (30-4) reached the championship match for the first time. It plays fourth-seeded Long Beach Jordan, which defeated top-seeded Fountain Valley in another semifinal.

“In a close match we feel like we have the ability to come back,” Coach Kevin Kornegay of Valencia said. “There’s a lot of senior experience on this team and everything’s coming together right now.”

Just as it did in its previous two playoff matches, Valencia trailed after three games.

After struggling most of the match, senior Chris Haigh came through in the fifth game to help spark the comeback.

He finished with 28 kills. Corey Feldt added 22 kills and 17 digs, Chris Savage had 21 kills and David Lauf had 17 kills and 16 blocks.