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Connor Engelbrecht, Senior Lutheran of Orange (1), famous with his teammates after a point in the victory in the semi-final 3-1 CIF-SID 3 of throws against Warren on Saturday May 10, 2025 in Downey. (Photo by Howard Freshman, contributing photographer)
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Connor Engelbrecht, Senior Lutheran of Orange (1), famous with his teammates after a point in the victory in the semi-final 3-1 CIF-SID 3 of throws against Warren on Saturday May 10, 2025 in Downey. (Photo by Howard Freshman, contributing photographer)
Develop
Downey – The Volleyball Teams of Lutheran boys from Warren and Orange went back and forth during most of the four sets on Saturday evening, with a place in the championship match of the Division 3 of the Southern Section 3 in the game.
The Bears host, however, had problems to log in late and deal with throws on the net.
Warren, third seeded, finally lacked steam and abandoned the semi-final match 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-14.
“We just didn’t go very well. I think that’s what it comes back to us,” said Bears Lane’s Bears coach.
Orange Lutheran (24-13) will face Tesoro (17-13) for the CIF-SS title Friday or Saturday May 16-17, in a place to announce.
It will be the first appearance of the final of the throws since victory 2 in 2018.
Final 🏐 🏐: Warren falls to the Lutheran orange in four sets in the @Cifss Division 3 semi-final.
The throws prevail 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-14 thanks to a solid block in three and four. Had 10 of their 13 blocks on the two images. @Beachvarsity @Johnwdavis pic.twitter.com/aw38zwdrpb
– Tracy McDannald 📎 (@tracy_mcdannald) May 11, 2025
The throws, a general selection of the Trinity League, produced 10 of their 13 blocks in the last two sets, with 4 1/2 of the Junior Intermediate Blocker Josiah Trautman. The senior external striker Connor Engelbrecht recorded a summit of 15 striking attacks.
Orange coach of Orange Henry Valiente said it was a rigid test, especially because the Sophomore Warren Setter Elogie Holder “is difficult to read” after mixing rapid attacks with his passes at the start of the match.
“I think we had to remain consistent, be disciplined in our block, to be in good areas around the strikers,” said Valiente. “It could be lucky, it could be skills, but their attack was really good tonight.”
The Bears (25-7), who were denied their first appearance of a CIF-SS title match in 13 years, have obtained a summit of 16 striking attacks from the Senior Intermediate Blocker Caleb Schmidt. Senior exterior striker Daniel Patino added 13 striking attacks.
Schmidt said it was clear that it would be a “difficult” competition from the start.
“It’s a very good team,” said Schmidt. “Everything was even until we gave way in the last set. … It was back and forth all the time.”
Warren abandoned the opening set after having made seven of his 15 service errors.
“We did not put enough pressure on them by serving the ball,” said Lane. “But that’s sometimes how it happens.”
The Bears responded with a 5-0 race to open the second set and never abandoned the advance.
A great reason was Holder, who had five striking attacks and an ace in the set to keep the unbalanced throws.
“It helps a lot,” said Schmidt about Holder’s offensive. “He removes part of the court, removing a blocker. If I go up, he helps so much because they think that he will go up. Then I have a blocker on me and I am able to get around him.”
Addition of Valiente: “(Holder) is a talent that what cannot do wonders in a game. He can attack the ball, he can turn, he can empty, he can find strikers wherever he is. I think he is a second year student, so that says a lot about his quality.”
The third pivot set was also 12 times, including the last instance at 14-14.
One of Warren’s seven attack errors in the context sparked a 5-1 Lutheran race to take control. The senior intermediate blocker Evan Lidecis contributed to consecutive blocks during the key push, one with a senior external striker Logan Busch.
An error in shot down shot the bears in the 22-20, but the Lutheran orange closed the whole with three consecutive points, including a Busch block for the instructions.
“We fought, that’s really all that matters to me,” said Lane. “I thought they had done a good job by blocking us outside, especially on this fast Go which has become a little low on the pin.
“It’s just that, it’s a momentum. If we usually serve quite difficult and we are scoring a few points, it facilitates a little more psychological on the other side.”
Warren could not capitalize on an advance of 4-1 to open the fourth set.
A Kill Engelbrecht obtained the Lutheran Orange The Service and the first year MAX Lopez sector followed with consecutive aces to attach the whole. The throws finished with seven AS.
A 9-1 race, which included five blocks, opened an advance of 14-6 and the Lutheran orange pushed the advantage at 12 points before finishing the match.
Valiente awarded her players to have created a separation at the start of the set and resisted a gym for the whole competition.
“We are not careful how much we direct,” said Valiente. “We just needed to push every time.”
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