Royal Sweeps Into I-A Semifinals

Believe it or not, this is all very new to the Royal High girls’ volleyball team.

The Highlanders dropped Buena, 15-4, 15-11, 15-5, in a Southern Section Division I-A quarterfinal match Saturday night at Buena and advanced to a sectional semifinal for the first time since 1989.

The second-seeded Highlanders (17-2) played like they go to the semifinals every year.

Their strong blocking forced Buena (10-9) into more hitting errors, 23, than kills, 17.

Courntey Guerra helped on offense with 12 kills for Royal, which plays host to third-seeded Marina on Tuesday night.

“If we keep playing like this, we’re unstoppable,” Guerra said. “There’s no limit where we can go.”

The Bulldogs, who finished fourth in the Channel League and made the playoffs as an at-large team, knocked off Canyon, the Foothill League champion, and Highland, the Golden League champion, but couldn’t get past Royal.

“It’s simple math,” Buena Coach Jimmy Miranda said. “[Royal has a] good program, good coaching, physical players with experience. It all adds up to a big ‘W.’ ”