South Torrance Makes Fast Work of Westlake

TORRANCE —  There was plenty of time to think for the Westlake High girls’ volleyball team, which arrived five hours before the match.

Plenty of time for a trip to the mall and a bite to eat. Plenty of time to think about serving and passing, the intangibles that got the Warriors to the Southern Section Division II-AA semifinals.

But when it mattered, time past too quickly for the Warriors.

Westlake was unable to slow down South Torrance in a 15-5, 15-9, 15-5 setback Tuesday at South Torrance. Total time, 64 minutes.

Failing to make an appearance were the staples that were the center of the Warriors’ season.

Never a team that could pound away at opponents, Westlake (19-7) won the Marmonte League and advanced this far by playing defense and serving with tenacity.

But the Warriors had only five aces. Worse, they allowed eight by South Torrance.

“All the things that got us here kind of escaped us tonight,” said Coach Karen Suppan Klee of Westlake. “We were definitely not hitting on all cylinders, like you have to be when you’re at this level.

“It’s tough to end on this note.”

The second-seeded Warriors barely threatened unseeded South Torrance, falling behind in the first game, 11-4, and in the third game, 11-1.

The exception was the second game, where the Warriors trailed, 11-4, but pulled to within 11-9. The comeback was brief, however. Alexis Constantino served two aces late in the second game, including the game-winner, to end the Warriors’ threat.

South Torrance (18-6), which advanced to the championship for the first time since 1992, is used to playing tough competition in the Bay League.

The Spartans finished third in league play, but it’s not an insult to finish behind Mira Costa, seeded No. 2 in the Division I-AA playoffs, and Peninsula, which was eliminated in the Division I-AA quarterfinals last week.

“We never get an off night in our league,” said Coach Robert Kutsch of South Torrance. “The [playoffs] are almost like a relief for us.”

Lindsay Crandell had 15 kills for South Torrance, which plays top-seeded Santa Margarita in the championship match Saturday at Cypress College.

Setter-outside hitter Claire Robertson, who has committed to Northern Arizona, had four kills, three blocks and 42 assists for the Spartans.

Even the Spartans’ unhealthy players--Vanessa Kelterborn missed practice on Monday because of flu-like symptoms--contributed. Kelterborn had eight kills.

Four South Torrance players topped seven kills, but only Stacey Lee, with eight kills, did the same for Westlake.

Amanda Tapking had six kills and Katie Meledy added five for the Warriors, who were trying to advance to their third championship match in four years.

“It’s frustrating because we worked our butts off the whole year,” said Lee, a senior. “I didn’t want this to be my last high school game. We just couldn’t stop them.”

Unfortunately for Westlake, neither South Torrance nor time could be stopped.

MORE COVERAGE

A SPARTAN

VICTORY

Although tested, Sylmar downed Garfield 15-11, 16-14, 15-10, in the City Championship semifinals.

WOLVERINES

IN FOUR

After a slow start, Harvard-Westlake rebounded to a 15-11, 6-15, 15-11, 15-4, victory over Corona del Mar.

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