La Reina tops T.O. in volleyball

TEAMWORK--Lancer mates, Bryn Porter, left, and Kristin Berthiaume, no. 4, go for the return vs. La Reina, Tuesday.

By Wayne Harrison

Acorn Sports Writer

The La Reina volleyball team defeated Thousand Oaks in three straight games, 25-18, 25-18 and 25-23 on Tuesday night in a match played at Thousand Oaks High School.

For T.O., it was the first match of the season, and the Lancers may have been fighting some first-game jitters. For the Regents, now 4-2, it was the first match after a riveting tournament victory in San Luis Obispo last weekend. The team already seems to be in midseason form.

"I don’t know what came across us on Saturday," said Robyn Randolph, referring to the San Luis Obispo Tournament win. "We all just got so pumped up and played together. We trusted each other."

Randolph had 34 kills and 50 service points and was named to the All-Tournament team at San Luis Obispo (SLO).

"I wasn’t surprised, but I was kind of nervous to see how we’d play in an all-day tournament," said Breezy Ward, who was also All-Tournament at SLO with 72 digs and 57 kills. "But really, I think we got better as the day went on."

Hailey Fithian was the SLO Tourney MVP. She had 124 assists.

"We were on fire," said Fithian. "We played amazing. We were gelling really well."

Taylor Nardoni noted that the Regents are compensating well for their lack of height.

"We’re not the tallest team out there, but we really bring it together on defense and passing," said Nardoni. Of winning the early-season tourney, she added, "It totally helps for the rest of the year, especially winning it. It starts the season off with a great pumper-upper."

Against Thousand Oaks on Tuesday night, Ward had 14 kills and eight digs, Fithian had 32 assists, 23 digs and five kills, Randolph had 11 kills, 12 digs and four aces, Nardoni had four kills, nine digs and three aces, Kimberly Brown had five kills, 10 digs and an ace, and Emily Robbins had four kills and one ace.

"We’ve played better in practice," said Lancer second-year coach Yariv Lerner. "This was our first game and we were a little nervous, but we’re going to be a good team. I’m real excited about the season. Tonight we just weren’t communicating too well."

Bryn Porter had 14 kills for the Lancers. "She’s phenomenal," said La Reina head coach Don Hyatt.

Porter didn’t think the Lancers played their best vs. La Reina.

"I think we have a lot of potential. Tonight we were kind of up and down," said Porter. "We just need to be more consistent. This was our first match and I think we were all, maybe, a little bit nervous."

Tracie Rex had three kills and seven blocks vs. La Reina and Jackie Hil had five kills and four blocks. Porter, Rex and Hil are all seniors.

T.O. made it interesting in game three, battling back for a 20-13 deficit and eventually tying the score at 23 before succumbing.

"They hung in there really well in the third game," Hithian said of Thousand Oaks. "They were just as good as I expected. I know some of the girls. They brought us a good challenge."

About facing Westlake in a big local matchup tomorrow night at Westlake, La Reina’s Robbins spoke for herself and her teammates.

"I’m very excited to play Westlake," said Robbins. "It’s going to be a huge game. They’re a great team, and hopefully we’ll be able to match up with them."

Hyatt said the Westlake showdown would further indicate his team’s progress.

"It’s a nice measuring tool for us," he said. "We know they’re going to go to the playoffs and do very well, so it’s a good test for us. They have some size that we’ll have to counter, and that will help us get ready for our playoff situation."