Carlsbad beats OLP, advances to Division 1 section finals

CARLSBAD — While the opponent began blocking and defensive drills with an impressive focus during warmups Tuesday, Carlsbad’s girls volleyball team lined up in one large circle and worked on headers.

Yes, this was volleyball and not soccer. And yes, this was the CIF San Diego Division I playoff semifinals and not an early-season match.

But this loose, carefree attitude the Lancers have had all season just may be the right formula for a championship.

Carlsbad (24-8) used a balanced offense led by senior outside hitter Ruby Partain’s match-high 22 kills to get past visiting Our Lady of Peace, 25-22, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, to advance to Friday’s title match at 7:30 p.m. against Tuesday’s winner of Mission Vista (26-10)-Scripps Ranch (22-15).

“It’s just energy and have fun,” Carlsbad coach Tom Bloomquist said. “We’ve been down so many times this year, and we never quit.”

Partain added five aces, four in the first set, as the Lancers dominated from the service line. Senior outside Havani Embry also finished in double digits with 12 kills and added two aces.

“We lost all of our seniors last year so we didn’t know what it would be like,” Partain said. “But we’re doing really good. This is good pressure.”

Senior Caitlyn Prior spread the offense around for OLP (17-11). Four players had at least seven kills, led by Dylan Wilson’s 16. Twin sister Delilah Wilson added 11 kills and six stuff blocks. Charlotte Wickstrand notched 12 kills and Talia Butler added eight.

The visitors showed poise and consistency as they jumped out to a 10-4 lead to start the match. Bloomquist called a timeout to right the ship, and a 5-0 and 14-4 run ensued. The Pilots put together a 6-1 run to get the lead back at 20-19. Down 22-21, Lancers senior outside Ruby Partain took over with a kill and back-to-back aces — she had four aces in the set — as senior opposite Reese Braidic put it away on set point.

With Prior at the service line, the Pilots jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind two Prior aces, a kill and two stuff blocks from Delilah Wilson and Talia Butler’s two kills and a stuff block in set two. The Lancers remained patient, chipping away until taking a 17-16 lead after three straight OLP errors, including Prior and Charlotte Wickstrand colliding on a ball, which knocked Wickstrand out for the set. A back-and-forth end to the set concluded with Dylan Wilson’s kill to end a long rally for the 25-23 win.

Partain simply took over in set three with eight kills to set the stage for a dominant fourth set.

“I didn’t know what we were going to have at the beginning of the year,” Bloomquist said. “The kids stepped up. I carry a big roster, and to coach them when there’s a lot that don’t get in. They’re awesome. It’s a lot of fun.”