“Because of all of our errors, we made (the Tartans) look incredible,” Beattie added. “This is the same team we practiced for. We knew they had height.”
After falling behind 16-6 in the second game, the Rebels finally began to show some life. Despite losing the second frame by 12, Flintridge Prep started to make passes and hit at the right angles.
That momentum carried into the third game, with St. Margaret’s never leading by more than four points. Sophomore Kenyatta Smith was effective with seven sets sent his way, all of which led to scores.
After a five point service run, the Rebels managed to tie the game at 21-21, but a couple of unforced errors combined with a pair of kills rounded out the scoring at 25-23 in the final frame.
“Toward the end of the second and all throughout the third, our passing was on,” Beattie said.
Yet the passing was not enough, as Flintridge Prep’s magical season came to an end.
It was the second time in three seasons Flintridge Prep advanced to the semifinals. A few days earlier, the Rebels barely edged the Eagles of Arrowhead Christian (Redlands) in four games, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 25-19. Flintridge Prep had easily advanced through the first two rounds with relative ease in sweeping both Hillcrest Prep and the California Academy of Math and Sciences.
Last season, the Rebels lost in the Division V quarterfinals.
According to Beattie, this was the most successful volleyball team in Flintridge Prep history, as the 20 wins are a school record for victories in a season. “This is the best season Flintridge Prep has ever had,” he recently told the Valley Sun. “We’ve never had more than, what, 17 or 18 victories in a season.”
However, the team has never advanced beyond the semifinals, and the Rebels hoped to add to its historic season when they traveled to San Juan Capistrano.
Senior outside hitter Gavin Thomson finished his Prep career with 13 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Kenyatta Smith added six blocks and four kills.
