Oilers storm back to win in five

HUNTINGTON BEACH — The birthday cake was brought over to Craig Pazanti as he grinned.

But more than the frosting and sprinkles, it was the play on the court that made the Huntington Beach High girls’ volleyball coach smile the most. His Oilers rallied from two games down to top intercity foe Edison Tuesday night, 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 15-13, at Huntington Beach High.

Two matches into the season and the Oilers are already battle tested, after losing in five games to Corona del Mar in the season opener Sept. 10.

“It was super-frustrating [against CdM],” said senior outside hitter Kellie Turner, the four-year starter making sure it didn’t happen again by slamming a team-high 22 kills Tuesday night. “It seemed like we were more afraid than anything, and it shouldn’t be that way. When we go on the court, we should know in our heads that we’re going to win, and we didn’t come in like that. Today, we definitely came in that way.

Edison took the first two games. In Game 1, the score was tied at 24 until Chargers senior setter Alicia Vogel served a pair of aces. Although Edison (1-1) also took the second game, Huntington Beach began passing the ball better and got into a groove.

“If we don’t pass the ball, that kind of takes us out of our offense,” Pazanti said. “I was looking at the stats the first couple games, and Hampton didn’t get too many sets, and that’s got to be attributed to the lack of passing.”

He was talking about Haleigh Hampton, the 6-foot-6 senior middle blocker who transferred from Temescal Canyon and has also brought a buzz to the Oilers’ program. She’s already committed to Long Beach State and Tuesday, she had 19 kills and six blocks. Junior Andrea Streips added nine kills and 13 digs, and sophomore setter Taylor Packer had 46 assists. Blake Wetzel and Kaitlyne Fisher had three aces each and sophomore Aly Torline had some big blocks.

“It’s completely different [with Hampton],” Turner said. “We were already a really good team but with her, it’s amazing. More people come to our games, and it’s just crazy. It’s a lot of fun.”

Edison led, 5-4, in Game 5 before Huntington Beach went on a 7-1 run.

For the Chargers, junior Delaney McCraney had a team-high 14 kills, sophomore Cassie Strickland added 12 and senior lefty Taylor Knox had 11. Both teams now prepare for the Dave Mohs Tournament, which begins Friday.