Eagles remain confident against El Modena

COSTA MESA — Playing against a strong opponent didn’t worry the Estancia High volleyball team on Tuesday night at Estancia.

In fact, it was all part of the plan.

Estancia Coach Jim Huffman said he wanted his team to play at least one playoff contender before heading into Orange Coast League play and facing Laguna Beach — another squad on an elite level.

So, even after the Eagles’ 25-14, 25-17, 25-19 loss to El Modena, they knew they had stayed competitive against a team that advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division II-A quarterfinals last year.

El Modena lost to eventual champion University.

Although Estancia failed to win a game, Huffman said he was encouraged that the Eagles (8-3) improved as the match went along against the Vanguards (8-1).

“They were better than we were, but we hung in it pretty good in the third game,” Huffman said. “We didn’t back down. We could have easily folded like Superman at a laundry mat, but we didn’t.”

The Eagles didn’t put up too much of a fight in the first two games, but the third game was indeed back and forth the whole way.

Estancia took a 6-4 lead on senior Stacie Watson’s service ace, then a 10-9 lead on Watson’s desperation tip over the net that landed in.

El Modena rallied, but the Eagles were within 17-16 on Olivia Schow’s kill.

Estancia pulled within two points, at 21-19, on Joy Avelino’s service ace. But El Modena immediately responded and finished off the match when the Vanguards’ Alec Boyle got a service ace of her own and Hillary Williamson added two kills.

“They were really scrappy,” said Estancia senior middle blocker Jaye Hellmich, who had a team-high six kills. “They got the ball up a lot and had good passing. They were a strong team, but we did pretty good.”

Watson and Annie Tomasek had five kills each, and Watson added 17 assists and two aces.

Amanda Watson and Amy Hartwell — both freshmen starting in the back row for Estancia — had 15 and seven digs, respectively, and Schow added three solo blocks.

Junior outside hitter Sarah Braunsdorf said she was proud of the way the Eagles stepped up at the end.

“We gave it a fight,” Braunsdorf said. “I think if we would’ve played like we played in third game for the whole time, then it would have been a five-game match.

“I love playing hard teams,” she added. “It just gets our intensity up.”

Huffman said the Vanguards’ serving caused problems with the Eagles, who nevertheless adjusted as the match went on.

“We hadn’t played a team that had every kid serve that tough, and we hadn’t played many teams that jump-served like that,” Huffman said. “But we didn’t do too many bad things over and over. I thought we did pretty good. I’m not upset at all with how we played.”

Estancia, which moved up from CIF Division III to Division II this season, plays at Santa Ana on Thursday. The Eagles then open Orange Coast League play against Calvary Chapel on Oct. 5.

Huffman said he expects Calvary Chapel and Laguna Beach to be tough in league. Laguna Beach is ranked No. 1 in Division II-A. The Breakers won the Dave Mohs Tournament two weeks ago.

“We have to play them three times in league, but it should be a good experience,” Huffman said. “It’s just tough to play at Division II when you’re small and don’t have many club players. At Laguna Beach, every kid is a club player, and for multiple years.”