DOWNEY — The Warren and Orange Lutheran boys volleyball teams went back and forth for most of four sets Saturday night, with a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship match at stake.
The host Bears, though, had issues connecting passes late and dealing with the Lancers at the net.
Third-seeded Warren ultimately ran out of steam and dropped the semifinal match 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-14.
“We just didn’t pass very well. I think that’s what it comes down to for us,” Bears coach Scotty Lane said.
Orange Lutheran (24-13) will face Tesoro (17-13) for the CIF-SS title Friday or Saturday, May 16-17, at a location to be announced.
It will be the Lancers’ first finals appearance since winning Division 2 in 2018.
FINAL : Warren falls to Orange Lutheran in four sets in the @CIFSS Division 3 semifinal.
Lancers win it 25-23, 19-25, 25-20, 25-14 thanks to a strong block in sets three and four. Had 10 of their 13 blocks over the two frames. @BeachVarsity @johnwdavis pic.twitter.com/aW38zWDRpb
— Tracy McDannald (@Tracy_McDannald) May 11, 2025
The Lancers, an at-large selection from the Trinity League, produced 10 of their 13 blocks over the final two sets, with 4 1/2 from junior middle blocker Josiah Trautman. Senior outside hitter Connor Engelbrecht recorded a team-high 15 kills.
Orange Lutheran coach Henry Valiente said it was a stiff test, particularly because Warren sophomore setter Elogious Holder “is tough to read” after mixing in quick attacks with his passes early in the match.
“I think we just had to stay consistent, be disciplined in our block, be in good areas around the hitters,” Valiente said. “It might be lucky, it might be skill, but their offense was really good tonight.”
The Bears (25-7), who were denied their first CIF-SS title match appearance in 13 years, got a match-high 16 kills from senior middle blocker Caleb Schmidt. Senior outside hitter Daniel Patino added 13 kills.
Schmidt said it was clear it would be a “tough” contest from the outset.
“They’re a really good team,” Schmidt said. “It was all even until we kind of gave out in the last set. … It was back and forth the whole time.”
Warren dropped the opening set after committing seven of its 15 service errors.
“We didn’t put enough pressure on them serving the ball,” Lane said. “But that’s kind of how it goes sometimes.”
The Bears responded with a 5-0 run to open the second set and never relinquished the lead.
A big reason was Holder, who had five kills and an ace in the set to keep the Lancers off balance.
“It helps a lot,” Schmidt said of Holder’s offense. “He’s taking a part of the court away, taking a blocker away. If I go up, he helps so much because they think he’s going to go up. Then, I have one blocker on me and I’m able to go around him.”
Added Valiente: “(Holder) is a talent than can do wonders in a game. He can attack the ball, he can turn, he can dump, he can find hitters wherever he is. I think he’s a sophomore so it speaks volumes of how good he is.”
The pivotal third set was tied on 12 occasions, including the last instance at 14-14.
One of seven Warren attack errors in the frame ignited a 5-1 Orange Lutheran run to seize control. Senior middle blocker Evan Lidecis had a hand in consecutive blocks during the key spurt, including one with senior outside hitter Logan Busch.
A Lancers attack error pulled the Bears within 22-20, but Orange Lutheran closed the set with three consecutive points including a Busch block for set point.
“We fought, that’s really all I care about,” Lane said. “I thought they did a good job blocking us outside, especially on that fast-go that got kind of low to the pin.
“It’s just that, it’s a momentum game. If we’re usually serving pretty tough and we’re scoring a few points, it makes it a little bit easier psychologically to sideout on the other side.”
Warren was unable to capitalize on a 4-1 lead to open the fourth set.
An Engelbrecht kill got Orange Lutheran the serve back and freshman setter Max Lopez followed with consecutive aces to tie the set. The Lancers finished with seven aces.
A 9-1 run, which included five blocks, opened up a 14-6 lead and Orange Lutheran pushed the advantage to as many as 12 points before finishing off the match.
Valiente credited his players for creating separation early in the set and withstanding a muggy gym throughout the contest.
“We didn’t care how much we were leading by,” Valiente said. “We just needed to push every single time.”
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