SOUTHERN SECTION 4-A VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Second-Game Momentum Carries Woodbridge

DANA POINT — Perhaps the most important part of Woodbridge High School’s victory over Dana Hills in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A boys’ volleyball playoffs Friday night was the second game--the one the Warriors lost.

“We were down, 12-1, and I told the players there was no way we could win it,” Woodbridge Coach Steve Stratos said. “But we came back and outscored them (7-3) the rest of the way. We lost the game, but I felt the comeback was important for us. It gave us momentum.”

And that was enough for the Warriors to rally for a 15-13, 8-15, 15-9, 15-10 victory at Dana Hills.

Woodbridge (16-2) will play host to Santa Barbara in the quarterfinals Friday at 7:30 p.m. Dana Hills ended the season at 11-4.

“Santa Barbara’s good,” Stratos said. “I’ve heard a lot about them and I’m hoping to get some tape of their matches. It will be tough, but they’ve got to come down and play at the hot house at Woodbridge.”

Joey Cohen had 18 kills and Todd Beebe added 17 to lead a balanced Woodbridge attack.

“Joey didn’t play well last Wednesday and I challenged him,” Stratos said. “He had to play well for us in a big game like this and he did. He really came through.

“And Todd’s only a junior, but he plays like a seasoned veteran. He’s very consistent.”

Woodbridge counted on five kills by Cohen and four by Beebe to win the first game. The Warriors trailed, 12-11, but two hitting errors by the Dolphins and a block by Mike Manthei rallied Woodbridge to the victory.

Woodbridge committed 13 errors in the second game as Dana Hills built a 12-1 lead.

Dana Hills Coach Oz Simmons said he thought the momentum began to swing to Woodbridge in the second game.

“Woodbridge is nice and solid,” Simmons said. “We won the game, but they got the momentum from it.”

Beebe and Cohen again carried Woodbridge in the third game. Beebe had six kills and Cohen five, including the game-winner, as the Warriors built a 4-0 lead and never trailed.

Woodbridge sealed the match in the fourth game, racing to a 6-0 lead and letting Dana Hills come no closer than three points.

“Woodbridge blocked and passed better in the last two games,” Simmons said. “We were serving well in the second game and that took them out of their game plan.

“But their passing really improved after the second game.”

Manthei had seven blocks for Woodbridge, including the match-winner.

“I thought the key to the game was at the net in the third and fourth games,” Stratos said. “We blocked especially well then. We needed Manthei to come out and do something for us. He is capable of taking over a game.”

Travis Barr had 14 kills and J.B. Taylor added 11 for Dana Hills.

In other 4-A matches:

Laguna Beach 3, University 0--Dain Blanton had 27 kills and John Trevino eight to lead host Laguna Beach to a 15-3, 15-6, 15-11 victory. Paul Buss added eight blocks for Laguna Beach (16-3).

Edison 3, St. John Bosco 0--Steve Snyder had seven kills to lead Edison to a 15-5, 15-1, 15-2 victory at home. Edison is 15-1.

Corona del Mar 3, Santa Monica 1--Sophomore Doug Hesse had 17 kills and eight digs for Corona del Mar, which won at home, 15-11, 15-12, 5-15, 15-12. Sophomore Derek Slingsby had 13 kills for Corona del Mar (9-5).

Newport Harbor 3, Leuzinger 1--Billy Nguyen had 23 kills and Ian Juberg had 18 kills and four blocks to lead visiting Newport Harbor to a 12-15, 15-4, 15-6, 15-4 victory.