PREP ROUNDUP : San Clemente Finds Stamina, Beats Dana Hills

After four games of playing catch-up, a better-conditioned San Clemente boys’ volleyball team got the momentum and ran with it, defeating Dana Hills, 16-14, 10-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-2, in its South Coast League opener Tuesday night at Dana Hills High.

“Our conditioning made a difference in the end,” San Clemente Coach Mike Hurlbut said. “We practice to play five (games) every time.”

San Clemente (5-0, 1-0) fought back from a 11-4 deficit in the fourth game, winning five points in a row, capped off by a kill from Travis Eaton, who finished with 24 kills, 28 digs and seven blocks. The Tritons then scored six of the next seven points and won the game when Gabe Gardner, who led San Clemente with 31 kills, put away Dana Hills with a solo block.

In the fifth, the Tritons took a quick 12-0 lead before Dana Hills (4-4, 0-1) called a time-out. Dana Hills saved six match points before Phinney Gardner won the game and the match with a kill down the right side.

In games four and five, San Clemente, which had 10 aces and 20 service errors, eliminated its service errors and concentrated on taking Dana Hills’ big hitters out of the match.

“We went after Jeremy (Darner), their go-to guy, and made him pass a lot of balls,” Hurlbut said. “I think it took its toll on them.”

Middle blocker Bob Hefty led Dana Hills with 18 kills. Eric Krogh added 11 kills and five blocks for San Clemente.

In Century League tennis:

Villa Park 12, El Modena 6--Jason Devera won, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, and Ryan Hollis won, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1, in singles for Villa Park (7-2) in the league opener for both teams.

In Sea View League tennis:

Corona del Mar 13, Irvine 5--Jed Weinstein and Beat Baudenbacher swept at No. 2 doubles, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, to remain undefeated in league for Corona del Mar (10-1, 7-0). Brian Walden (11-1) swept at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0, for the Sea Kings.

In Century League golf:

Villa Park 208, Orange 220--Jay Finnane shot two-over 38 and David Lee 39 for Villa Park (4-4, 1-2) at Green River’s Orange course.

In the Empire League:

Esperanza 202, Los Alamitos 211--Jason Henderson and Chris Berry each shot a four-over 39 for Esperanza at Yorba Linda County Club.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Laguna Hills 209, Estancia 211--Sophomore Corey Cole shot a four-over 40 to lead Laguna Hills (5-2, 2-0) at San Clemente’s Pacific Golf Club. Eric Barnett shot 40 for Estancia (1-1 in league).

In the Sunset League:

Edison 214, Fountain Valley 230--David Searle shot two-over 38 for Edison (6-3, 3-1) at SeaCliff.

Huntington Beach 194, Ocean View 205--Jeff Farley shot a one-over 37 for Huntington Beach (2-2). Ocean View is 1-3.

In the South Coast League:

Capistrano Valley 216, El Toro 216 (Capistrano Valley wins on better score by sixth man, 46-47)--Brandon Rake led Capistrano Valley (7-4, 3-0) with a 39. Ben Garner of El Toro took medalist honors with a two-over 37 at Marbella.