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High School Roundup: Oilers seek another title

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With one championship already in its possession, the Huntington Beach High boys’ volleyball team began its quest for another postseason title when it opened play Tuesday in the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional.

The Oilers, who three days earlier had won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship, swept visiting Clovis Buchanan, 25-10, 25-15, 27-25, to move on to the regional semifinals.

Huntington, the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 Regional, will host No. 4-seeded San Clemente at 7 p.m. Thursday. The winner advances to the regional final on Saturday at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.

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Sophomore outside hitter TJ DeFalco had 13 kills, junior outside hitter Brenden Sander had 11 kills, and senior opposite Zach Gates had seven blocks for the Oilers, who have won 22 straight matches and are now 32-2.

“We came out ready to play in Game 1 and played pretty flawless,” Huntington Coach Craig Pazanti said. “I think we lost focus in Game 3 but still had enough fight to finish the match in three sets.”

Buchanan finished 25-11.

Huntington’s semifinal opponent Thursday, San Clemente, is the last team to defeat the Oilers. The Tritons scored a 3-1 win in the championship final at the Orange County Championships in March.

The Tritons won their regional opener Tuesday at L.A City Section Division 1 champion and No. 5-seed Granada Hills, 25-20, 25-14, 25-14.

Thursday’s other Division 1 semifinal sends No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Loyola, whom Huntington defeated in Saturday’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 title match, to face No. 2-seeded Chula Vista Otay Ranch.

Pazanti said the thrill of Saturday’s Southern Section title is still sinking in.

It was the program’s first Division 1 title in 19 years.

“It’s three days later, and I am still on Cloud Nine,” Pazanti said Tuesday. “But, I told the guys we need to focus for one last stretch to finish it right.”

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CIF Track & Field

Several local athletes have advanced from the CIF Southern Section Championship to compete Friday at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

The athletes who advanced are: Eamon Smythe, Edison (boys’ 800 meters); Jeff Thies, Edison (boys’ 3,200 meters); A.J. Beynon, Edison (boys’ high jump); Matt Dispenza, Marina (boys’ high jump and boys’ triple jump); Chandler Thorpe, Edison (pole vault); Kylie Nishisaka, Marina (girls’ 3,200 meters); Susannah Oleson, Huntington Beach (girls’ high jump); Michaela Schaeffer, Edison (girls’ triple jump).

The CIF Southern Section divisional championships were held Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. Schaeffer won the Division 1 girls’ triple jump title at 38 feet, 2 1/4 inches.

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Boys’ Golf

Fountain Valley High senior Andre Vu shot one-under-par to advance out of the CIF Southern Section Individual Final Championship at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc Monday.

Vu finished tied for fourth and was among the top 28 to advance to the CIF/SCGA Regional Qualifier at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena May 30.

He was tied for third with three others, but Chaminade’s Justin de los Santos won the third-place playoff.

Rico Hoey of Rancho Cucamonga won with a 69.

Vu must finish in the top six May 30 to advance to the CIF State Championship at Quail Lodge in Carmel June 5.

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Signings

Fountain Valley wrestler Steele Escobedo received a full scholarship and signed a letter of intent with Menlo College on Saturday. The senior, a Sunset League and CIF champion in wrestling, also received the Fountain Valley Coronet Award on Friday.

Escobedo wrestled and played football at the varsity level all four years. He won his division (145 pounds) last January at Fountain Valley’s Five Counties Invitational. His became the first Baron to win a division title at the tournament in more than 30 years.

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