Garbisch Helps Upset Wilson

Jamie Garbisch of Los Alamitos knows the agony of defeat, and the agony of the feet, too.

After missing early-season matches while rehabilitating stress fractures in both feet, she played sparingly in two defeats this season against Long Beach Wilson. But Saturday she experienced the incredible thrill of victory as the second-seeded Griffins came from behind to upset top-seeded and defending-champion Wilson, 7-15, 15-7, 16-14, 10-15, 20-18, in the Southern Section Division I-AA championship match at Cypress College.

“It’s so surreal,” said Garbisch, a 5-11 senior outside hitter who had 20 kills. “We had nothing to lose. We gave it all the heart we had, and we did it.”

Especially after the Griffins came out and promptly fell behind, 9-0, to open the first game.

But Los Alamitos (29-7), No. 4 in The Times’ rankings, staged a late rally in that game before losing, came from behind to win the second and third games and came out on top in a see-saw fifth game that was played with rally scoring and included seven ties. The Griffins finally put away Wilson (33-3) on a smash by Katie Carlson after 2 hours 20 minutes of play.

“Jamie didn’t play the first match against them and only played limitedly the second time, and only on defense, with no jumping,” Los Alamitos Coach Sue Monsoor said. “She’s a great player, and after all that time on the bench just watching, she’s learned a lot and become a very savvy player, too.”

Garbisch, one of nine seniors on the Los Alamitos roster, was not the only player to contribute. Junior outside hitter Kara Uhl added 15 kills and four blocks, and Carlson finished with 11 kills. Senior defensive specialist Laura Kroneberger had 21 digs and setter Ashley Filkins had 53 assists and 12 digs.

Wilson got a match-high 25 kills by junior middle blocker Brett Quirarte and 22 kills by sophomore outside hitter Cynthia Barboza. Emily Hendrickson added 19 kills and setter Alli Dillon had 81 assists.

-- Lauren Peterson

Newport Harbor d. Westlake Village Westlake, 15-6, 15-2, 15-11 -- The top-seeded Sailors (26-6) won a rematch of last year’s Division II-AA semifinals by beating the Warriors (22-4) in less than an hour.

Alyson Jennings had 10 kills, Emily Turner had nine kills and Kristin McClune and Lauren Miller each had eight blocks to lead Newport Harbor. Rachel Smith had seven kills and Courtney Wade had 21 assists to lead Westlake (22-4), which made its first appearance in the finals since 1997.

Santa Ana Mater Dei d. South Torrance, 15-13, 15-1, 15-10 -- The Monarchs (28-8) won a second consecutive Division II-A title as Mallorie Croal had 16 kills and four blocks and Kimberly King had nine kills and six blocks to deny South Torrance its first title.

Ashley Hardwick had 11 kills and 28 digs, Annie Meyers had 10 kills and 29 digs and Caroline Kim had 25 assists for South Torrance (22-9).

Temple City d. Santa Margarita, 15-11, 16-14, 15-9 -- Jacqueline Jackson had 23 kills and Jessica Jackson added 13 as top-seeded Temple City (24-0) won the Division III-AA title, its first girls’ volleyball title. Brianna Bowman had a match-high 24 kills for Santa Margarita (22-9).

Huntington Beach Marina d. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 15-4, 15-11, 14-16, 13-15, 15-9 -- Becky Green had 38 kills, including four in the decisive fifth game, as third-seeded Marina upset top-seeded Mira Costa in Division III-A to win its first title since 1997. Martha Gardikas had 17 kills and Tawnya Maosi had 10 for Marina (19-4). Mira Costa (23-5) got 23 kills apiece by Sydney Donahue and Whitney Turner.

San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s d. San Pedro Mary Star, 15-8, 15-9, 15-4 -- Outside hitter Polly Bendush had 14 kills, including six in the second game, and Mara Balak shined on defense for the Tartans (23-4), who won their second consecutive Division IV-A title and fourth in a row overall.

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Correspondent John Klima contributed to this report.