GO GET IT—Oak Park High’s Christien McManus, left, and Justin Parks chase down a ball against Norco in the section title match. JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers The Oak Park High boys’ volleyball team dug deep but couldn’t net an elusive section crown.

Although Oak Park enjoyed a stellar season that included a Tri-Valley League title, the Eagles lost for the second straight year to Norco in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 final, this time in four games by scores of 9-25, 25-16, 22- 25 and 20-25.

It was the Eagles’ fourth CIF-SS championship defeat in the past five years. OPHS finished the season 29-5 overall.

Despite the loss, Eagle senior Christien McManus stayed positive after Saturday’s match at Cypress College.

“I’m a little unhappy about the final outcome, but this was a very young team that worked hard to get to the final,” McManus said.

“I consider this season a success, not a failure.”

With only two seniors on the roster, the Eagles’ youth showed in the first game as the team quickly found itself in a 14-2 hole.

Oak Park had trouble containing Norco senior middle blocker Kevin Dell, who had three kills and four blocks in the opening game.

“The first game we just couldn’t get anything going,” OPHS head coach Patrick Quinn said. “Our team is very young, and we were playing the defending champs, so I believe some of our guys were a little intimidated out there at first.

“We played a lot better after our guys’ nerves were settled.”

Oak Park regained its composure in the second game and cruised to a 25-16 victory, handing Norco its first loss in the playoffs. McManus registered five of his match-high 24 kills in the second game.

The Eagles had their swagger back after the victory, but unfortunately for the locals, Norco senior outside hitters Taylor Sander and Johannes Brink were also in top form. Sander and Brink were nearly unstoppable in the third and fourth games, when they compiled a combined 17 kills.

Quinn said the Cougars’ height and Oak Park’s serving problems were the difference.

“Norco had the luxury of float serving because a bunch of their players are so tall,” Quinn said. “We had to be risky with our serves, and that’s why we had some problems serving in the third and fourth games.

“Even though we were big underdogs, I still thought we had a good chance to win. If we could have taken that fourth game, I think we could have won the match because all the pressure would be on Norco.”

After the loss, Eagle senior Michael Shea reflected on his team’s playoff magic during his time at Oak Park.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Shea said. “Yes, we lost today, but I had the chance of playing in the CIF championship a couple times, and it was a great feeling each time.”