WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Oaks Christian’s girls volleyball team got its revenge against Harvard-Westlake on Tuesday night, sweeping the Wolverines, 25-19, 27-25, 25-21, in a pool-play match in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs at Oaks Christian.
The Lions lost to Harvard-Westlake in five sets earlier this season but came into Tuesday’s match better prepared.
Oaks Christian coach Julie Bennett said the Lions served and passed better than they did when the teams met in August.
“Well, I think there’s always a little something to losing to a team and knowing, you know, we had our chances too to win,” Bennett said. “We served really well tonight and conversely, I think (we) passed better than we did last time at their place.”
Despite injuries that have left Harvard-Westlake without several players, the Wolverines nearly took the second set before falling behind 2-0 in sets.
Elyse Wong and Malie Ogbechie helped lead the Lions’ offense, while Bennett said the team’s middle hitters also played a larger role in creating scoring opportunities.
“I think our middles were more part of our offense too tonight, which just helped open things up more for them,” Bennett said.
Ogbechie said the Lions studied Harvard-Westlake’s offense and defense and even adjusted their practices based on what they saw.
“We watched a lot of film. We changed our practice style to kind of mock some of the players on the other team,” Ogbechie said. “We did drills specifically catered to the way they do their defense, the way they play their offense, everything.”
She said the Lions also showed more composure than they had during the first meeting, particularly when Harvard-Westlake kept the final two sets close.
Wong said the Lions focused on serving during practice, hoping to put pressure on Harvard-Westlake’s passers.
“I think we put a lot of pressure on, like, the passers on the other team,” Wong said. “We served hard and intentionally. We worked on serving during practice.”
Wong said the players have grown closer throughout the season, with the seniors helping bring the team together. Before games, the Lions spend time together in the locker room, sometimes having dance parties.
Harvard-Westlake assistant coach Sammy Ramos said that even with several players injured, the Wolverines have a close group of players who work well together on the court.
Ramos said Oaks Christian had done a lot of scouting before the match and knew what to expect from Harvard-Westlake.
For Oaks Christian, the victory was especially important after losing its first Division 1 pool-play match to Santa Margarita.
Ogbechie said the team was determined not to repeat its earlier loss to Harvard-Westlake.
“We came into this match ready for anything to happen,” Ogbechie said. “We were so determined because this is one of our only chances that we get to play them because they’re not in our league.”
Oaks Christian will travel to Mater Dei for its next pool-play match Saturday.
Bennett said Mater Dei has a fast offense with several strong hitters, including its middle hitters. She said Oaks Christian will have to play well to compete Saturday.