Eagles sweep Mesa

The Estancia High girls volleyball team hadn’t beaten Costa Mesa High

since Jim Huffman took over as the Eagle head coach three years ago,

going 0 for 4. The current group of Estancia players had never tasted

victory against Mesa.

The Eagles put an end to both streaks Wednesday night with a

25-21, 25-23, 25-20 victory at Estancia High in the Golden West

League opener for both schools.

“It feels awesome because they are our rival school and we’ve

always wanted to beat Mesa,” junior outside hitter Jaye Hellmich

said.

In the process, Estancia snapped a three-game losing streak after

opening the season with five consecutive wins.

Hellmich and sophomore outside hitter Sarah Braunsdorf led the way

with a match-high eight kills each. Braunsdorf’s kill clinched the

victory in the third game.

“Sarah and Jaye both stepped up pretty good,” Estancia Coach Jim

Huffman said. “But I feel extra fortunate to pull out the victory on

a night when we didn’t play our best.”

Huffman said the team’s passing could have been better.

“I think Jaye is possibly the best hitter in the league when our

passing is better,” he said.

Neither team had more than a four-point lead in the first game.

Two kills by Hellmich and an ace by Stacie Watson gave the Eagles a

23-19 lead. A kill by Costa Mesa’s Tracy Bjelland (team-high seven

kills) kept the team alive, but the Mustangs served into the net to

give the Eagles the game.

In the second game, Estancia overcame four kills by Costa Mesa’

Danielle Morton and came back from a 20-16 deficit. A Braunsdorf kill

and a Costa Mesa kill attempt that went long tied the game 21-21.

After a Hellmich kill tied the game, 23-23, two Braunsdorf aces put

the game away for the Eagles.

“We ran our plays well and dominated at the net,” Hellmich said.

“We knew we could beat them. We came out a little nervous because

it’s Mesa, but then we just thought, don’t worry, we can do this

thing.”

The Eagles moved to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the Golden West League.

The victory gives the team confidence going into the rest of league

play.

“I think we have an awesome shot at winning our league,” Hellmich

said. “It’s a good way to start the season.”

“I think Ocean View is the team to beat in our league,” Huffman

said. “I can’t count Santa Ana out, either. We’ve never beat Ocean

View or Santa Ana since I’ve been here. I think the biggest obstacle

is not being good for so long. We have to learn how to win. Hopefully

the first half of league we can do that.”

Can this team win the league title?

“Their goal is to win league,” Huffman said. “It’s very ambitious

for a group of girls that haven’t finished above fourth place, but I

think it’s realistic.”

Costa Mesa, coming off a 19-25, 25-15, 26-24, 25-21 nonleague win

over Century High Tuesday, dropped to 2-7 overall and 0-1 in league.

Costa Mesa Coach Chris Komer said he still expects his team to

compete for a playoff spot coming out of the Golden West League.