Swept up in volleyball victory

"We had great preparation for this match, and our intensity really showed on the court from the beginning," said Eberts, who is playing his first year of volleyball for the Chargers. "I think that quick start helped us set the tone. I was expecting five intense games, but we just continued to play solid the next two games to get the sweep."

Redondo jumped out to a 9-5 lead in game No. 2, but Edison rallied to tie the score at 11-11. The Seahawks were looking to pull away when they took a 17-14 lead, but Edison called a timeout and then got a kill from senior outside hitter Tim Golden, a net violation by the Seahawks and a kill by Phil Darin, to forge a 17-17 tie. The score was tied four more times before Redondo stood at game-point, holding a 24-23 lead. But the Seahawks' were unable to sew up the game, as middle blocker Chris Roche was wide on a kill attempt.

The Seahawks could have wrapped up the second game when leading 25-24, but Darin, a 6-foot-7 middle blocker who also had 16 kills, came up with a big kill to tie the score. Edison seized the lead for good on another kill by Darin, then won the game on Pestolesi's kill.

"We just came into this match knowing what had to be done, and everyone on this team responded," Darin said. "Our defense and our passing has been great. We did the job tonight. I think it was one of our best performances."

Up 2-0 in games and a win away from becoming the first team from Orange County to win a championship at Cypress College that day ? both Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar lost division finals held earlier in the day ? Boone said his team was reminded in a huddle before the third game of what had happened to Corona del Mar.

The Sea Kings were up 2-0 in games against No. 1 Valencia in the Division II title match played prior to the Edison-Redondo final, but the Vikings stormed back to pull out another title.

"One of our players brought up the fact that they were up 2-0 in games but lost. I put an end to that conversation real quick," Boone said. "It was a fantastic feeling to be up two games, but we knew it was far from over.

"What impressed me most was that our guys kept an even keel and never lost focus. The adrenaline was a little high in that third game, but there was plenty at stake."