Estancia serves up sweep

Bryce Alderton

The jump serves didn’t always hit the mark, but when placed properly,

the piercing projectiles powered by the Estancia High boys volleyball

team were too much for visiting Costa Mesa to handle.

Estancia, ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division III,

tallied 17 aces despite committing 19 errors on serve to remain

undefeated in the Golden West League following a 25-11, 25-17, 25-12 victory over Costa Mesa Wednesday.

Senior outside hitter Kris Hartwell led the Eagles (11-1, 5-0 in

league) with 14 kills and five ace serves.

Hartwell, like several Eagles, used the jump serve to find open

spots and confuse the Mustangs (4-5, 1-2) on several occasions.

“[Estancia’s] jump serves are as good as any I’ve seen at this

level,” Mesa Coach Dave Sorrells said. “They jumped served us off the

court and nullified anything we were going to do good, bad or

otherwise.”

Estancia junior setter Trevor Holmes also tallied five ace serves

while leading the team with five digs and 33 assists.

Senior Josh Kornegay, a first-team All-CIF selection in Division

III a year ago, finished with nine kills and four digs.

Sophomore Ryan Bagwell led Mesa with three kills while senior

Mitch Mandel had two.

The Eagles have focused more attention on jump serving in practice

this season to prepare for the CIF playoffs.

“This year, everyone is practicing [jump serves], from middle

blockers to defensive specialists,” said Hartwell, a first-team

all-league honoree a year ago.

The Eagles tallied eight service aces in the first game, but

committed eight errors on serve in Game 2. Mesa pulled within 17-13

in the second game before the Eagles, the defending Golden West

League champions, rattled off the next five points, including two

aces by Holmes.

“As many errors as we had, we had that many aces,” Estancia Coach

Tracey Ingraham said. “We want to be better prepared for CIF and not

start serving down.”

Senior middle blocker Scott Sankey, Estancia’s tallest player at

6-foot-6, slammed seven kills and tallied four digs while Dallas Kopp

(6-5) had five kills. Mesa’s three tallest players on the court were

6-2.

Brad Larsen added three ace serves for Estancia.

Sophomore setter Andrew Melcer tallied four assists while Ryan

French, Mandel and Garrett Walthers each had a service ace for Mesa,

which struggled with its passing, Sorrells said.

But the Eagles’ athleticism and control took over to cruise to

their third straight series win.

“Estancia, offensively, is by far the best team we have played,”

Sorrells said.