No. 1 Royal Fires Volley, Falls Back in Tournament

REDONDO BEACH — The Redondo-Mira Costa boys’ volleyball tournament was supposed to be the stage upon which Royal High proved itself deserving of the top ranking in Southern Section Division I.

But after they got past intermission, the Highlanders experienced stage fright, forgot their lines and saw the curtain close on a 15-10 loss to Santa Barbara in the quarterfinals Saturday at Redondo.

“I hate going out that way, to come that far and not come up with your best game,” Royal Coach Bob Ferguson said. “We got tentative. We didn’t go for balls that were right in front of us. Mental errors.”

The Highlanders also failed to establish their trademark defense at the net against Santa Barbara and had only two blocks, both by Garrett Herzer.

The Dons avenged a three-game sweep by Royal in a nonleague match in March and assured the Highlanders of a drop in the rankings.

But Royal still could earn one of the top four seedings for the Southern Section playoffs, which begin Friday.

“I really think we’re one of the best teams here,” said Royal setter John Baxter. “We belong with the elite. It’s a shame we had to go out early, but I’d rather lose in the best tournament than play in the little ones and win.”

Capistrano Valley beat Loyola to win the tournament, which featured six of the top seven ranked teams in Division I.

A strong comeback saved Royal from a first-round exit and an even steeper drop in the rankings.

Mira Costa, ranked No. 5 in Division I, took a 13-9 lead over the Highlanders and looked entirely unlike the team swept by Royal in a nonleague match in March.

But the Mustangs disintegrated into a mess of hitting errors while Royal, behind eight kills by Nick Flanagan, took full advantage and scored the final six points for a 15-13 victory.

“We were six scared guys, but six guys that had faith in each other,” Flanagan said.

There were no scares for Royal during pool play.

The Highlanders went 8-0 in games and allowed only 29 points, the fewest of any of the 40 teams.

They looked unstoppable against Crespi, with only two hitting errors in a 15-0, 15-3 victory.

Royal served nine aces, four each by Flanagan and Marc Chaffee, who made the all-tournament team.

Crespi (4-4), along with Canyon, Chatsworth and Glendale, did not advance out of pool play.

Canyon, ranked No. 7 in Division I, was swept by Mira Costa, 15-10, 15-10, and finished 3-5 in pool play.

Chatsworth earned a 15-13, 6-15 split with Bishop Montgomery, the No. 4 team in Division II, but was plagued by its season-long nemesis--passing--and finished 3-5.

University High outside hitter Mark Williams is playing again, just in time for the City Section 4-A playoffs on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-6 Williams, who has committed to UCLA, missed four matches and most of two tournaments because of tendinitis in his left knee.

“Earlier today, I was playing some of the best volleyball I’ve played in about a year,” Williams said.

The Warriors, three-time defending 4-A champions, dropped three conference matches during Williams’ absence and are seeded third in the City 4-A playoffs. Granada Hills is top-seeded, Chatsworth No. 6.