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Update from Campbell Hall vs. Palm Desert Aztecs

C. Hall won in straight sets 25-15, 25-16, 25-16 in its first action of CIF Div. III-AA playoffs.

Janelle Tucker led CHall with 27 kills and 2 aces.

Meredith Ware contributed 10 digs and Kathleen Finnerty had 21 assists.

Juliana Tucker played in the first set and then rested the remainder of the match as she continues her recovery from the ankle injury that sidelined her for the final match of the regular season against Brentwood of Los Angeles

It was a good news, bad news situation for the El Camino Real of Woodland Hills girls volleyball team after its first round Div. I City Section playoff match against Kennedy of Granada Hills.

First, the good news.

The Conquistadores outlasted the Golden Cougars in five sets, 25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-11, to advance to Thursdays second round.

The bad news?

El Camino Real (6-12-1) has to face top-ranked West Valley League rival Granada Hills.

However, El Camino Real has two days to revel in its victory and prepare for the Hanna Levanen, Amber Hawthorne and Highlanders.

It seemd like it would be a relatively quick night for El Camino Real as it won the first set and was leading 9-2 in set two before falling apart.

Kennedy seized the opportunity, coming all the way back from the eight point deficit and then won set three to take a 2-1 set lead.

"We always do that," El Camino Real middle blocker Jackie Silver said. "We get too excited and just lose our heads and focus. We start playing too fast but we always come back and pick it up."

That's exactly what the Conquistadores did.

El Camino real regained its focus behind Silver, Marissa Chavez and Shanna Puruncajas to win set four and then scored four of the fibal five points in set five to escape the mild upset.

Chavez, Puruncajas and Silver had 12, 11 and eight kills for El Camino Real.

Kelly Gegenheimer had 28 assists and Cassandra De La Cruz had 26 digs. Puruncajas added four aces, including coming through with two huge kills to break open a 11-10 lead in set five for a three point lead.

A Kennedy (11-3) hititng error and a service ace from Ashlynn Parker ended the match.

As far as facing Granada Hills, Silver is quite confident despite two regular season league losses.

"We got it," Silver said. "We can do it. We played some close games with them so we know we can stay in it. We just have to keep our heads up and spirits lifted."

Crespi of Encino setter Daniel Stork has committed to UC Irvine.

Stork is one of the best setters in California and is excited to play for the 2009 NCAA champions.

All first-round matches scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday

DIV. I

Rancho Bernardo (27-9) at Loyola (27-2)
Royal (21-7) at Clovis East (27-3)
Downey (21-2) at La Costa Canyon (24-10)
Westlake (26-4) at Granada Hills (20-2)

DIV. II

Verdugo Hills (13-3) at Mater Dei (28-8)
Oak Park (22-5) at La Jolla (20-16)
Cathedral Catholic (26-10) at Norco (26-0)
Torrance (15-13) at Mount Carmel (24-7)

DIV. III

Sage Hill (15-10) at Francis Parker (30-3)
The Bishop's School (17-8) at St. Margaret's (17-4)
Elizabeth Learning Center (13-3) at Salesian (23-6)
Clovis North (15-16) at Laguna Beach (23-5)

DIV. I

No. 1 Loyola (26-2) vs. Mater Dei (22-5) at Cypress College Gym II, 7:30 p.m.

DIV. II

No. 4 Royal (21-6) vs. No. 2 Westlake (25-4) at Thousand Oaks High, 7 p.m.

DIV. III

No. 4 Oak Park (22-4) vs. No. 2 Norco (25-1) at Cypress College Gym II, 2:30 p.m.

DIV. II

No. 1 Laguna Beach (25-5) at No. 4 Royal (20-6), 7 p.m.
No. 2 Westlake (23-4) at Thousand Oaks (18-10), 7 p.m.

DIV. III

No. 4 Oak Park (21-4) at No. 1 Quartz Hill (29-3), 7 p.m.

DIV. V

No. 4 Flintridge Prep (20-5) at No. 1 St. Margaret's (16-3), 7 p.m.

Div. II
Agoura at No. 1 Laguna Beach
No. 4 Royal at Valencia
Thousand Oaks at Claremont
No. 2 Westlake at Costa Mesa

Div. III
No. 1 Quartz Hill at West Valley
Santa Ynez at No. 4 Oak Park
Oaks Christian at No. 2 Norco

Div. V
Flintridge Prep vs. Arrowhead Christian or Avalon

All matches Friday night at 7 p.m.

City Section semifinals

Taft at Sylmar
El Camino Real at Granada Hills

7 p.m. both matches

Southern Section second round

Division II
Saddleback at Agoura
Valencia at El Modena
San Luis Obispo at Royal
Calvary Chapel Santa Ana at Thousand Oaks
Westlake at Valley Christian Cerritos

Division III
Bishop Diego at Quartz Hill
Oak Park at Tahquitz
Santa Monica at Oaks Christian
Lancaster at Norco

Division V
Flintridge Prep at Hillcrest Christian/Thousand Oaks
Saelsian at Vasquez

No. 4 Taft of Woodland Hills at No. 1 Sylmar
No. 3 El Camino Real of Woodland Hills at No. 2 Granada Hills

Both matches Tuesday at 7 p.m.

It took longer than expected but the El Camino Real of Woodland Hills boys volleyball team got what it wanted in the end.

The Conquistadores (12-3) shook off losses in game one and four and fought back from a 9-8 deficit in a deciding game five to outlast No. 6 Venice 15-25, 26-24, 25-15, 19-25, 15-12 Thursday night in a City Section quarterfinal match.

"We just kept believing," Kris DuBois said. "We always get off to a slow start bur we started clicking."

Kris DuBois had nine kills and six blocks and his brother Mikel led the team with 17 kills for ECR.

Tim Kolodny added four kills and 10 digs for ECR, hoping to advance to its second consecutive championship appearance but first must beat No. 2 Granada Hills on Tuesday in a semifinal.

"We had a lot of unforced errors early but we settled down and got momentum on our side during the middle games," Kolodny said.

Michael Rauth had 24 assists, often setting nicely for the Dubois brothers.

Jesse Escobar chipped in five blocks.

"I knew we would have a tough game because they are a good team and come from a good league," ECR coach Doug Coleman said. "Now I have to figure a way out to beat Granada Hills.