Woodbridge boys volleyball team falls to Poway in opening round of regional playoffs

Junior Ben Montplaisir goes up for a point in Tuesday’s regional match against Poway (Photos courtesy Harrison Zhang, For OC Sports Zone).

Woodbridge High’s boys volleyball team started out fast Tuesday night in the opening round of the Southern California Regionala against Poway.

The fourth seeded Warriors won the first set 25-21. But Poway, the fifth seeded team, came back to win the next three 25-21, 26-24, 25-13.

To see the the slide show, please click on the first photo

Woodbridge senior Matthew Edwards makes a kill during Tuesday's match.

Woodbridge's Mani Hosseini makes a play against Poway Tuesday night.

Spencer Sloniger of Woodbridge gets ready for the next play.

Woodbridge players including Spencer Sloniger(No. 7) and Ben Montplaisir celebrate a point.

Spencer Sloniger (No. 7) and a teammate make a play at the net for Woodbridge.

Phillip Salgado of Woodbridge makes a play at the net Tuesday.

Warrior players huddle during a break at Tuesday's regional playoff.

Terry Luo of Woodbridge gets ready to set the ball during Tuesday's match.

Woodbridge volleyball Coach Alan Ho follows the action during Tuesday's match.

“We obviously won the first and then the second and third game, we had opportunities,” said Warrior Coach Alan Ho. “We had leads down the stretch and we just didn’t quite make the play that we needed to. That third game, we obviously had a couple game points that we didn’t take care of.

“At the same time, we dug ourselves a seven-point hole at the beginning of the match and had to find a way to come back. That’s always a hard thing to do when you dig yourselves an early hole.

“We had opportunities every game, in the second and third game to close it out, but just couldn’t quite make enough plays and it that fourth game, we just kind of maybe fell part and got a little discouraged maybe.”

Woodbridge was led by Ben Montplaisir with 14 kills, Phillip Salgado with nine kills and Spencer Sloniger with eight kills.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsports.zone