Girls volleyball playoffs roundup: Newbury Park beats Royal in five-game thriller

All season long, the top opponent for members of Newbury Park High girls volleyball team have been themselves.

"It's been a mental battle for ourselves from the beginning," says coach Chris Forrest. "More so than a physical battle. We have the weapons. It's always been a matter of just putting it together and believing in ourselves."

The Panthers prevailed amid a key challenge Thursday night.

Locked in a slugfest with host and Coastal Canyon League champion Royal, Newbury Park scratched out a 16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11 victory in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.

Addison Benson put up a match-high 19 kills, Kayla Robinson had 12 kills and Taylor Milbourn finished with nine kills as Newbury Park — the second-place finisher in the Marmonte League — improved to 16-14 and earned a home contest in the second round Saturday.

Newbury Park will host Campbell Hall (17-9) beginning at 5 p.m.

The Panthers agreed that togetherness was the key asset in victory.

"It was about coming together as a team, even after we lost that first game," said Benson, a 6-foot-2 senior outside hitter. "We picked each other up. We played with a lot of energy.

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"We kept doing what we do well, and that's attacking with our offense."

Robinson, a 6-4 junior middle hitter, concurred. She scored four consecutive points in Game 5 — three on kills, the other on a block — that gave the Panthers a 6-2 lead they would not relinquish.

"When we play together, we're a tough team to beat," she said. "Our mentality tonight was to just go for it. Give everything we have."

It was a disappointing loss for Royal, but also might become an important building block.

The young Highlanders have just one senior on the roster, and the experience of a spirited playoff contest could be a springboard next season.

"We played with heart. We never gave up," said coach Kristine Connolly, whose team finished 22-6. "We're so young and the experience from a match like this should really help our players next season. We'll have big goals next year."

Ayzlinn Trefan piled up 15 kills, 21 digs and five service aces, senior Bea Gamboa notched 15 kills, and Hailey Byron collected 11 kills. Kyriah Trefan sparked the defense with 29 digs.

Sharp serving enabled Royal to win Game 1, 25-16. Newbury Park found itself tied at 22-22 in Game 2 — with backs to the proverbial wall — but ran off three consecutive points to even the match at 1-1.

Game 3 proved pivotal. Newbury Park piled up a 17-8 lead and still led 23-17 before the Highlanders scored six consecutive points for a 23-23 deadlock.

Back-to-back kills by Ella Hatch (7 kills) and Benson enabled Newbury Park to survive.

"We had our chances," said Connolly. "I'm really proud of these players for the way they kept fighting back. Just a couple mistakes cost us."

After Royal tied the match in Game 4, Newbury Park's hitting prowess took charge in Game 5.

Benson opened up a 2-0 lead with consecutive kills. Robinson scored four consecutive points for the 6-2 edge.

Royal, down 13-7, tallied four of the next five points. But the Panthers then closed out the victory.

Division 3

Oaks Christian swept visiting Yucaipa 26-24, 25-14, 25-13 in a Division 3 first-round match. The Marmonte League champion Lions (25-3) will at San Marcos in a second-round match Saturday.

Division 4

Kayleigh May finished with 32 assists, Leah Curtin had 13 kills, Tabitha Greene had 12 kills, and Mia Curtin had 19 digs to lead Thousand Oaks to a 25-19, 25-17, 25-16 sweep of host Downey in a Division 4 first-round match. The Lancers will play at top-seeded Saugus in a second-round match Saturday at 3 p.m.

Jada Stone had five kills and 39 assists, Anika Huelskamp finished with 25 kills and 10 digs, and Jade Alexander added seven kills to lead Oxnard to a 25-14, 25-10, 25-17 sweep of visiting La Serna in a Division 4 first-round match. The Yellowjackets (20-9) will play at Villa Park in a second-round match Saturday.

Division 6

Alesia Thomas had 10 kills and 12 digs, Olivia Campisi compiled eight kills and 11 digs, Camdyn Hodgins contributed 13 digs and three aces, Alex Morehead finished with five aces, eight kills and six digs, Abby Montana had seven kills and four aces, and Kezia Bocasan racked up 33 assists to lead top-seeded Simi Valley to a 25-21, 25-16, 25-20 sweep of visiting St. Bonaventure in a Division 6 first-round match. The Pioneers will visit Temescal Canyon in a second-round match Saturday. Talia Behrens finished with 10 kills, three aces and two blocks. Gina Decas had nine kills, four digs and a block, Fi Grava had 24 assists and three digs, Maddy Applegate added two kills and two blocks, and Kaitlin Logan had three kills and 10 digs for the Seraphs.

Sarah Shaw finished with 19 kills, three blocks and three aces, Emily Morge had seven kills, Madison had seven kills and four aces, and Reagan McGuire had three kills and 32 assists to lead La Reina to a 25-14, 25-15, 25-16 sweep of visiting Oakwood in a Division 6 first-round match. The Regents will play Sonora in La Habra in a second-round match Saturday at 4 p.m.

Oak Park lost to host Santa Clarita Christian 16-25, 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 15-12 in a Division 6 first-round match.

Division 7

Nordhoff earned a three-game sweep of visiting Beverly Hills in a Division 7 first-round match and will play at Silverado in a second-round match Saturday.

Division 8

Yazmin Wiggins had 12 kills and five aces, Sofia Peralta had 11 assists and Selena Cortez had five aces to lead Santa Clara to a 21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-21 win over host Beacon Hill in a Division 8 first-round match. The Saints will host Sierra Vista in second-round match Saturday.

Santa Paula lost 25-22, 25-14, 27-29, 25-19 to host Southlands Christian in a Division 8 first-round match.

Division 9

Hillcrest Christian of Thousand Oaks defeated visiting Crossroads Christian in three games in a Division 9 first-round match. The Saints will host the Academy of Careers & Exploration in a second-round match Saturday.

Loren Ledin is the Prep Editor for The Star. He can be reached at loren.ledin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0285.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Girls volleyball playoffs: Newbury Park beats Royal in 5-game thriller