Harvard-Westlake Gets the Picture

STUDIO CITY —  Normally, the Harvard-Westlake High volleyball team reviews film of upcoming opponents.

But after Esperanza demolished Westlake in the second round this week, Harvard-Westlake Coach Jess Quiroz decided against it.

Quiroz’s plan worked, but barely.

The Wolverines defeated Esperanza, 15-8, 15-3, 15-17, 11-15, 15-7, in a Southern Section Division I quarterfinal Friday night at Harvard-Westlake.

“I didn’t want to show a film which didn’t show what’s really going on,” Quiroz said. “That wasn’t a true test. I didn’t want them to worry about Esperanza.”

The Wolverines (20-1) will meet Mira Costa in the semifinals but almost didn’t get there.

Richard Rauth had 16 kills as Harvard-Westlake dominated in the first two games. But in the third game, the Aztecs pulled out a grueling 17-15 victory. After trailing in each of the first two games, Esperanza (14-3) built a 13-5 lead.

Behind the passing of James Morrow, Harvard-Westlake cut the lead to 13-10. The Wolverines avoided a game point at 14-10, and came back to take a 15-14 lead.

Esperanza took a 16-15 lead on a block by John Alvzman, and ended the game on a kill by Alvzman.

“At that time we were playing too tight,” Quiroz said. “We weren’t talking and we weren’t concentrating on playing. We were able to come back a little bit, but it wasn’t enough.”

In the fourth game, Harvard-Westlake blew a 9-5 lead as Alvzman pulled the Aztecs back with three blocks.

In the fifth game, Rauth had six kills as the Wolverines pulled out to a 12-5 advantage. Swing hitter James Ostridge served the game-winning point for the Wolverines.

Morrow had 72 assists for Harvard-Westlake. The Wolverines had a well-rounded attack, with Rauth finishing with 36 kills, Julian 20 and Patrick Roscoe 17.

Huntington Beach d. Royal 15-8, 10-15, 15-13, 15-8--Dave McKenzie had 26 kills as the Oilers downed the Highlanders in a Division I quarterfinal.

Jim Bonelli had 24 kills, Joe Olsen had 20 kills and six blocks and John Baxter had 69 assists for Royal (17-2).

“[Huntington Beach] played some tremendous defense, that’s the mark of a Huntington team,” Royal Coach Bob Ferguson said. “Even when we blocked the ball they’d get it back up and over.”

Evan Hook finished with 21 kills for Huntington Beach (20-1), which plays Capistrano Valley in the semifinals.

Campbell Hall d. Capistrano Valley Christian, 15-3, 15-3, 15-8--Dylan Herrick had 10 kills, five aces, six digs and six blocks for Campbell Hall (17-1) in a Division III quarterfinal at Campbell Hall. Tim Nollan had 25 assists and five digs for the Vikings.