JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers In this week's CIF-Southern Section girls' volleyball coaches' polls, four teams from the TriValley League were ranked in the top 10 of Division IIA. Fans attending Tuesday night's game between La Reina and Oaks Christian found out why.

The Regents, ranked third in the division, and the Lions, ranked fifth, both played well for five grueling games.

In the end, however, it was La Reina that walked away with a five-game victory at home.

The win put La Reina's record at 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the TVL, while Oaks Christian fell to 831 and 4-1 in league.

"This is a tough league, and we're finding out that you don't just compete in it, you survive it," La Reina head coach Don Hyatt said.

"Teams used to be able to go through the year untested before the playoffs. That doesn't happen anymore. You can't look past anyone in this league."

Against OCHS, La Reina took the first game, 25-18. The Lions came right back by winning the next two games by scores of 25-22 and 25-23.

Oaks Christian was able to

CLOSE CALL—La Reina's Daniella Anderson, right, and Oaks Christian's Glenna Roberts meet at the net Tuesday night.

hold off La Reina's hard hitters in Games 2 and 3 thanks to senior Brina Clark, who led the Lions with 26 digs. Senior Glenna Roberts, who had a game-high 53 assists, and sophomore Tara Robinson, who had 21 kills, also played well in the middle games.

Momentum swung in Game 4.

Behind terrific serving from La Reina junior Melissa Bloomgren and seniors Hanna Stoiberg and Daniella Anderson, the Regents took an 8-1 early lead and never looked back. La Reina scored nine straight points later in the game and won easily, 25-11.

"In the huddle after the third game, our coach was very encouraging," Stoiberg said. "He told us if we play like we're capable of and cut down our errors, we would be all right."

In the deciding fifth game, Stoiberg logged six kills. With the Regents up by six, Stoiberg served an ace to give her team a 15-8 win and the match.

"As a senior and four-year player for us, (Stoiberg) is the one that needs to step up and take charge," Hyatt said. "Tonight she did that. She's the one that led us."

Stoiberg finished the match with 18 kills and 28 assists.

Although she played with a sore throat, La Reina freshman Katherine Workman also contributed with 14 kills and 21 digs. Regent senior Annie Adams collected 15 digs, while Bloomgren registered 17 digs of her own. Junior Madeline Rumer contributed 13 kills for LRHS.

After the match, Oaks Christian head coach George Hees gave La Reina credit for its win.

"We were playing loose in Game 2 and Game 3, and then, after a couple bad plays in Game 4, it seemed like we just froze," Hees said. "You have to give La Reina credit, because they served us off the floor in Game 4 and Game 5."