Tologs' streak stopped at 34

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — Well, expect the top of the CIF Southern Section Division I-A poll to change significantly when its updated Monday.

In less than an hour Thursday night, the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy volleyball squad saw its league winning streak snapped, along with its grip atop the division.

Flintridge Sacred Heart suffered a stunning 25-19, 25-11, 25-13 Mission League road loss to second-ranked Harvard-Westlake. The Tologs had their 34-league match-winning streak snapped by a Harvard-Westlake team that showed its aggression at the net.

The Tologs (20-4, 7-1 in league) last lost a league match on Oct. 15, 2003 against Harvard-Westlake. Flintridge Sacred Heart never looked in sync Thursday against Harvard-Westlake (18-4, 7-1).

"They got us off balance with their serving and they got into our heads," Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Shelli Orlandini said. "We couldn't get [Harvard-Westlake] out of our heads.

"It was kind of tough to get our feet off the ground."

Harvard-Westlake, which pulled into a two-way tie for first place in league with Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, had no trouble soaring at the net to slam down kills against the beleaguered Tologs.

The Wolverines also didn't resemble the squad that fell in four games at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy on Oct. 4, something Harvard-Westlake Coach Jess Quiroz noted.

"The difference for us this time around was that we had time to prepare," Quiroz said. "We blocked out the first meeting with them and threw away the tape.

"We have some good middle blockers, so we should control the middle."

Harvard-Westlake got a match-high 17 kills from middle blocker Brittany Julian and 28 assists from setter Katherine Seabastion.

The match's turning point came midway through the first game. Flintridge Sacred Heart built a 15-11 lead before Harvard-Westlake used a 12-0 run to take a 23-15 lead.

The Tologs appeared confused, forcing Orlandini to call her second timeout during Harvard-Westlake's run.

Audrey Eichler, who finished with seven blocks, sealed the game with a kill.

Harvard-Westlake closed out the second game with a 9-3 spurt, and they sealed the match on an ace by Julian.

Orlandini said the Tologs, who got 10 kills from Julie Herrera and 20 assists from Sam Orlandini, weren't prepared.

"We haven't played a good match since the first time we played Harvard-Westlake," Shelli Orlandini said. "We haven't had a match where we were challenged."

Quiroz, who has led Harvard-Westlake to five CIF titles and three State Championships since 1993, said he wouldn't be surprised if the Tologs and Wolverines met in the playoffs next month.

"I think it could be a possibility," Quiroz said. "I think we are among the best teams in the division, along with Marymount.

"This is when you typically play tough."

Flintridge Sacred Heart and Harvard-Westlake each have two league matches remaining. The Tologs will meet Louisville and Chaminade, and the Wolverines will face Chaminade and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.