Falcons fall in first round

GLENDALE — While making the bus ride from La Crescenta to Laguna Beach on Friday, the members of the Crescenta Valley High boys’ volleyball team were eager.

When the Falcons arrived inside the Laguna Beach High gymnasium prior to their CIF Southern Section Division II first-round match, they might have been a bit awe struck.

Crescenta Valley saw its season conclude with a 25-9, 25-15, 25-21 loss to fifth-seeded Laguna Beach.

“We were fired up on the way down and we kind of thought we had a chance until we got there,” said Crescenta Valley Coach John Nelson, whose team went 12-9 and 8-4 in the Pacific League. “[Laguna Beach] is a pretty good team.

“We didn’t find too many holes to attack at. They served us tough. We played real good defense.”

The Falcons, who finished third in the Pacific League behind Claremont and Arcadia this season, got 13 assists from senior setter Rio Fischer and five kills from senior middle blocker Steven Orozco.

Sophomore middle blocker Eric Boyd and senior middle blocker Nico Alegria had three kills and three blocks, respectively, for Crescenta Valley.

“Boyd played well, and he’ll get two more shots at the playoffs,” said Nelson, whose team fell to host Santa Barbara in a first-round playoff match after taking third in league last year. “We were a little tight in the first game, we were tied at 13 in the second game and we led, 17-15, in the third game.

“We had a winning season, made the playoffs and beat Arcadia. Next year will look to be pretty good. I think our future looks real good.”

Laguna Beach (18-7) will next battle Beckman or Hemet in a second-round match at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Laguna Beach finished first in the competitive Orange Coast League.