Santa Margarita Holds Off La Habra

Santa Margarita jumped all over La Habra in the second round of the state Division II girls’ volleyball playoffs Saturday, easily winning the first two games.

Some in the crowd at Santa Margarita might have been expecting to go home early, but if so they don’t know the Highlanders.

“It’s never a blowout,” La Habra Coach Troy Abbey said, “when we’re playing.”

La Habra made a match of it, winning the third game and making a serious challenge in the fourth, before Santa Margarita pulled out a 15-10, 15-8, 8-15, 15-12 victory.

The Eagles (20-4) advance to the semifinals and will host La Jolla, a 15-10, 13-15, 15-13, 15-8 winner over Bakersfield Highland, on Tuesday.

La Habra (21-2) won the Southern Section Division II-A title by rallying from a two-game deficit to beat Lakewood St. Joseph and appeared to have gained enough momentum to force one more game.

“I think it would have been a very interesting fifth game if we got there,” Abbey said. “But our side-out game let us down. It’s a credit to their tough serving.”

The Highlanders had a 10-8 lead, after three consecutive kills by sophomore Ruth Keao Burdine, who had eight of her 16 kills in the fourth game. But after a Santa Margarita timeout, Eagle middle blocker Christy Pfrenzinger got a dink for a side out.

Santa Margarita tied the score at 10, La Habra went ahead 11-10, then Pfrenzinger had two more kills for side outs to set up single points that gave the Eagles a lead they never relinquished.

Pfrenzinger, a 6-foot senior, finished with 14 kills, including six in the fourth game. “She’s not overpowering,” Eagle Coach Eddie Rapp said, “but she quietly takes care of business. She made a little noise tonight, which is real nice.”

Sarah Ballog, a 6-1 middle blocker, had 15 kills and six blocks.

Her stuff block late in the fourth game made it 13-11 and after La Habra scored another point, Ballog made a kill for a side out.

Santa Margarita back-row specialist Heather Schuster then entered to serve. Her ace made it 14-12 and Lauren Heri finished off La Habra with her 14th kill.

After dominating the first game, Santa Margarita took an 11-0 lead in the second. La Habra fell behind 12-1 and then started to rouse itself, scoring six consecutive points. Setter Amanda Siler had three kills and one block for points and another kill for a side out during the run. Siler finished with 11 kills, 14 digs and 31 assists.

La Habra’s momentum carried into the third game. Suzanne Andrade had six of her 14 kills in the 15-8 victory.