Esperanza Defeats Royal

CYPRESS — Esperanza came into its final match of the year with its best player hobbled and having to face an unbeaten and favored opponent. Then Aztecs went out and were hammered in the first game.

But it was just what Esperanza Coach Kurt Kersten wanted.

Although senior Jon Alleman had a tender left hamstring, he notched 33 kills to lead fourth-seeded Esperanza to a stunning comeback victory over second-seeded Simi Valley Royal, 6-15, 15-5, 16-14, 15-13, in the Southern Section Division I boys’ volleyball final Saturday at Cypress College.

“This match just showed what kind of guts and determination this team had,” Kersten said. “When Royal went out and won that first game, I told the kids that was the best thing that could have happened.

“Let’s just get it out of the way and let them get a little overconfident.”

There was good reason for Royal (20-1) to feel pretty good about its chances against Esperanza (19-1). The Highlanders routed third-seeded Capistrano Valley in three games in their semifinal as the Aztecs struggled to advance past Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in five games.

And as Kersten put it, his best player, Alleman, “was at about 80% of what he would be normally.”

That turned out to be more than enough.

Although Alleman, who hurt his leg in the semifinals, got lots of help from fellow seniors setter Justin Dalton (60 assists), middle blocker Kyle Anderson (13 kills, four blocks) and outside hitter Dan Harrington (10 kills), he wanted to carry his team the final steps.

Royal dodged two match points before Esperanza finally put it away. First Alleman spiked from the 10-foot line for a side out at 14-13, then Dalton fed Alleman again and he put the ball away in the deep right corner.

A dog pile and celebration ensued.

“I just told Justin to keep feeding it to me,” Alleman said. “I didn’t want anyone else to lose it or win it then.

“We’ve been together since the eighth grade and this is what we’ve been dreaming about.”

Esperanza took advantage of Royal’s sloppy hitting to win Game 2 then seized command of the match winning Game 3, which lasted 52 minutes. The Aztecs rallied from 5-0 and 10-6 deficits. Alleman had 10 kills and four blocks in the game and made the key plays to close it out.

Tied at 14, Alleman blocked Garrett Herzer for a point, then he teamed with Willardson to block Marc Chaffee for game point.

Ryan Denihan had 19 kills and five blocks, Marc Chaffee added 21 kills and setter John Baxter had 69 assists for Royal, which led 12-9 in Game 4.

But blocks by Anderson and Alleman pulled Esperanza to within 12-11. Then Harrington served for three consecutive points with Alleman notching two kills for points and Jason Dillard adding another to give the Aztecs their first match point.