PHOTOS: Trabuco Hills outlasts Crean Lutheran in CIF Division 4 playoff match

Katelyn Hayes of Trabuco Hills (right) and Delany Rowe of Crean Lutheran battle at the net Saturday. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs, John Luciano and Ted Rigoni).

Trabuco Hills and Crean Lutheran girls volleyball teams battled for five sets Saturday night in the second round of the CIF Division 4 playoffs in front of a big and spirited crowd at Crean Lutheran.

Trabuco Hills was able to win the fifth and deciding set 15-9. The Mustangs Lindsey Hoffman stepped up with four straight serving points to help the Mustangs advance into the quarterfinal round Wednesday on the road vs. Saugus.

To see the slide show, click on the first picture:

Trabuco Hills players celebrate after their victory Saturday.

Aynsley Bryan of Crean Lutheran dives for the ball.

Dana Healy of Trabuco Hills goes up for a kill Saturday.

Madison Moore of Crean Lutheran tries for a kill as Eryn Munoz of Trabuco Hills defends.

Crean Lutheran Coach Monty Johns guides his team vs. Trabuco Hills.

Crean Lutheran players celebrate after a point.

The Mustangs won the first two sets Saturday 25-23, 25-21 before the Saints came back to win the next two 26-24 and 25-21.

Crean Lutheran rallied from a 24-20 deficiit in the third set to win by two.

“The crowd was electric,” Trabuco Hills Coach Craig Moothart said Monday. “Before the fifth set started I asked the kids what’s the most important play in volleyball and they all answered ‘the next one’ and I reminded them that what has happened up to this point doesn’t matter, it’s this next one where our attitude, effort and volume must be present and no more looking away from each other if something goes wrong, but look to each other because each of you are the reason we are here right now.”

Moothart said a number of players stood out.

“An outstanding effort was put in by senior captain setter opposite Erynn Munoz, junior libero Lindsey Hoffman, tremendous passing and defense by sophomore Dane Healy and solid attacking in the middle by senior middle blocker Katelyn Haynes,” he said.

“A great end to a very emotional and exciting night of volleyball. Couldn’t be more proud of the girls and blessed to have such a fine group of coaches on our side.: Dave Hollaway (assistant varsity coach) and Ralph Rivera (freshman head coach).”

Crean Lutheran Coach Monty Johns praised the effort of his squad, which finished with a 13-6 record.

“While the outcome of Saturday’s match was disappointing, I am extremely proud of the entire team,” Johns said. “After losing the first two sets the girls battled back to take the match to five.

“An instrumental part of that battle was Kiera Maynard’s serving run in the third set. The grit and determination shown by the entire team to take the match to five sets came from their desire to play for each other and was an example of putting our verse into action. Years down the road they will have forgotten the scores from last night, but the memories of playing for each other will never be forgotten.”