Los Alamitos beats Fallbrook in battle of top-100 teams

In a battle of two high school girls volleyball squads ranked in the top 100 in the nation, 15th-ranked Los Alamitos High School defeated 64th-ranked Fallbrook High School in three games September 28 at Los Alamitos.

“I was really proud of my girls. They played well. They didn’t play as if they were intimidated. We kept pressuring them,” said Fallbrook coach Galen Tomlinson.

This year is believed to be the first in the history of Fallbrook High School’s volleyball program that the Warriors have been ranked in the top 100 in the nation. The loss to Los Alamitos was the second of the season for Fallbrook, whose only other loss was against La Costa Canyon. The Mavericks, who like Fallbrook will likely participate in the Division I playoffs of the CIF San Diego Section, are ranked sixth in the nation. Fallbrook lost the match to La Costa Canyon three games to one.

“They played well,” Tomlinson said of his team’s performance in the two losses. “We’ve taken a game off the number six team in the country. We were in the entire match against the number 15 team in the country, so bodes well for us down the road, I think.”

Los Alamitos captured a 25-15 victory in the first game against Fallbrook. The Griffins prevailed in Game Two with a 25-23 victory, although the game was tied at 23 points apiece before Los Alamitos obtained a sideout and was successful on game point. “That one was very touch and go,” Tomlinson said.

The third game was tied at 19 points apiece before the Griffins had a successful run and won the game 25-20. “It was touch and go until a couple of mental breakdowns,” Tomlinson said.

“Los Alamitos played well. They are a good team. Their ranking is well deserved,” Tomlinson said.

Fallbrook’s performance against Los Alamitos gave Tomlinson cause for optimism despite the loss. “I like our chances down the road,” he said.

Tomlinson noted that in both of Fallbrook’s losses the Warriors were aware that they were competitive and they learned lessons from the matches.

Being swept by the Griffins became tougher for Tomlinson after Fallbrook came so close to winning in two of the games. “It would have been nice to do so,” Tomlinson said of winning at least one game against Los Alamitos. “I didn’t expect to. But them having been that close and knowing you were one or two silly mistakes away from taking one, it’s a little frustrating.”

The match still served its purpose. “I took that match ’cause I wanted this group of girls to be tested in the heat of battle and know they can compete and survive. They competed,” Tomlinson said. “That night was to prepare us for someplace in the CIF playoffs, and I believe it served its purpose.”