Tritons Ride Momentum

There is little time for momentum shifts in a best-of-three-game volleyball match. The San Clemente girls’ team nearly learned that again Monday.

The Tritons rallied from a loss in the first game of the championship match in the Dave Mohs tournament and defeated Santa Ana Mater Dei, 5-15, 15-11, 15-11, at Huntington Beach Edison High.

San Clemente was swept by Long Beach Poly in last year’s final.

“[San Clemente] served a lot tougher than we did,” Mater Dei Coach Craig Pazanti said. “That caused us to stop passing the ball.”

The final game was played in a rally-scoring format. San Clemente, ranked fourth in the region by The Times, scored three consecutive points for an 11-5 lead and held off the Monarchs, ranked third.

“We had to play at the top of our game, because when we don’t, things like Game 1 happen,” Triton Coach Rob O’Rear said.

Katy Daly, the tournament’s most valuable player, had 11 kills for San Clemente. Ashley Bayer had 11 kills for Mater Dei.

Both teams are scheduled to play at the Las Vegas Durango tournament this weekend.