Few Southern California high school volleyball programs are more decorated than that of San Clemente High.  The Lakewood Lancers had to travel to the banner-draped Triton Gym on Thursday night, and after overcoming a first set deficit, took the second-round CIF Playoff match in a sweep, 26-24, 25-18, 25-22.

Jazmine Orozco led the Lancers with 16 kills, but it was the fast, precise setting and huge blocks from Megan Moenoa that made the difference.

“We’re feeling really good right now,” said Lakewood coach Mike Wadley, who juggled the rotation before the first round.  “Everything seems to be working, but we have to keep playing hard.  We can’t let up.”

Down by two late in the first set because of a lot of hitting errors, the Lancers turned to Taylor Hollins in the middle and Orozco on the outside.  A huge bounce block from Moenoa (bounce block: when you’re block goes straight back down to the floor and bounces) shifted the momentum and gave Lakewood the first set, 26-24.

In the second, the Tritons came out angry and went up 6-2, but again Moenoa and Orozco got the Lancers back in it.  With Hollins’ jump serve on target, Lakewood came back to tie it at six, and they never looked back.

The speed of the Lancer attack was just too much for San Clemente, and they couldn’t catch up with Lakewood after dropping the second, 25-18, and then the third, 25-22.

The Lancers will return home on Saturday night at 7pm to take on Mira Costa in the quarterfinals.  Wadley called Costa, “one of the best teams we’ve played all year.  We know they’re going to bring it, so we have to too.”