Royal Wins Despite Setbacks

THOUSAND OAKS — Their menacing defense at the net had disappeared and their emotional leader was laid out on the sideline, eating a banana and getting fanned by a large foamy hand.

Somewhere in between, members of the Royal High boys’ volleyball team realized they were in for a thriller against Thousand Oaks in Friday’s Southern Section Division I quarterfinals.

The blocking returned for the Highlanders, as did setter John Baxter from cramps, and the net result was a 15-13, 15-12, 5-15, 15-5 victory for second-seeded Royal, which advances to the Division I semifinals for the first time and will play Capistrano Valley at Simi Valley High on Wednesday.

Friday’s match was entirely different from the first two the Marmonte League rivals played during the regular season, both of which ended in sweeps by the Highlanders (19-0).

But the host Lancers (14-3) played better defensively this time and connected more efficiently on offense with 24 kills from John Penfield, who has committed to Cal State Northridge.

The Lancers led the first game, 13-11, and the second, 12-11.

“If you’re ahead and you have over 10 points, you’ve got to finish,” Thousand Oaks Coach Scott Van Wig said.

Instead, the Highlanders came from behind and were up two games.

The symptoms, however, were there for a Royal meltdown. The Highlanders did not have an ace after two games and were tied with Thousand Oaks in team blocks, 5-5.

In other volleyball playoff matches:

Esperanza d. Hoover, 15-1, 15-7, 15-7--Nick Marbach had 19 kills, Andrew Russell added eight kills and David Isip had five kills for the Tornadoes (12-6) in a Division I match at Esperanza (17-1).

Harvard-Westlake d. Providence, 15-2, 15-12, 15-9--Trevor Julian had 26 kills and Brett Fowler had 42 assists for the host Wolverines in a Division III match, ending the Pioneers’ hopes for a perfect season.

Santa Ynez d. Crespi, 15-8, 15-5, 15-3--Larry Witt had 21 kills and Mike Wall had 20 kills for the Pirates (19-1) in a Division III match.