Ocean View can’t overcome another slow start in league loss to Loara

For all the excitement a hot streak can bring, there comes a time when teams will be challenged.

Ocean View High’s girls’ volleyball team had won 12 of its last 13 games, but the Seahawks finally met their match and then some on Wednesday.

As in past games, the Seahawks started slow, but Anaheim Loara did not let the local team off the hook. The Saxons came away with a 25-20, 25-23, 25-15 victory at Ocean View High.

Those who thought Ocean View’s streak was noteworthy should consider this recent history. The league rival Saxons went undefeated for the entire 2012 regular season before suffering their first loss of the year to Hemet in the CIF-SS Division 4AA semifinals.

That team was led by the middle-blocking sister act of Cilla and Lauga Gauta.

The formula for success has not changed much at Loara, as 5 feet 10 Jasmine Mataia was a disturbance for the Saxons (10-4, 2-0) in the middle, as was front row outside hitter Abby Botana at 5 feet 11.

“We tried to stay pumped up and motivate each other,” Mataia said. “Even though we’re against a good school, we try to do our best. We learn from our past games and try to improve.”

Seahawks coach Joshua Nehls said his team remained upbeat, despite a match that was filled with unforced errors for Ocean View (12-3, 1-1).

“I was telling them that this was a win for us because we finally got to play against someone that can compete with us,” Nehls said. “Not only compete with us, but do better than us.

“You got to get that experience, so now I’m hoping that they will show up to practice tomorrow with this higher expectation of themselves. That’s the toughest team I think we’re going to face in our league.”

To reach that level, the Seahawks will have to convert their attacks at a much higher rate. Ocean View produced just 20 kills over the three sets.

Helen Reynolds had four kills and five blocks. Jillian Pratt and Po Russ had six kills apiece, winding up with 22 and 18 digs, respectively.

Cambria Adams had nine assists and seven digs. Kelly Greiner had 10 digs.

Ocean View challenged for the second set, holding a three-point lead as late as 21-18. The Saxons erased the deficit with libero Linda Lorah back to serve.

After a block by Reynolds erased one set point, Russ’ attack on the left side went into the net, handing the second game to Loara, 25-23.

“With that second game, coming back kind of took everything away from them,” Saxons coach Kerri Holton said.

“We were working on just calling the ball, ready for defense. I think today, that’s what we did. Everyone was playing defense. We were talking. We were loud.”

Nehls is looking for his team to break the trend of its slow starts. He hopes that Wednesday’s loss will impart that lesson to his players.

“We have to take advantage of the first few points of the game,” he said. “We can’t just start off slow and expect the other teams to give us a runway at the end to take off.

“There are teams that won’t let you do that. We have to play like ourselves from the very beginning on.”

Ocean View is currently ranked ninth in the CIF-SS Division 8 polls. Loara was among a list of four teams getting consideration but not presently inside the top 10 in Division 7. The teams will square off again at Loara on Friday, Oct. 13.

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Twitter: @ProfessorTurner