DIVISION I: VIKES REACH FINALS VALENCIA TO MEET JORDAN FOR TITLE VALENCIA 3, SANTA MONICA 2.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - It wasn't midnight and it wasn't a European castle. But nonetheless, the clock approached a figurative midnight and Valencia was about to turn back into a figurative pumpkin.

But then, in the fourth game, the glass slipper fit David Lauf. In the fifth game, it fit Chris Haigh, then Corey Feldt and finally the rest of the Vikings' boys' volleyball team.

Now, with a 15-13, 6-15, 6-15, 15-11, 15-12 Southern Section Division I semifinal victory Wednesday over third-seeded Santa Monica (26-6) at Hart High, Valencia (30-4) really is going to the ball - the finals Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cypress College against Jordan of Long Beach, which Valencia beat in two games at the Las Vegas tournament.

This was the third consecutive playoff match in which the Vikings came back from a two-games-to-one deficit.

``We don't like it,'' Lauf said. ``We need to stop that. But going five games three times gives us the edge with stamina.''

Trailing two games to one and 6-0 in the fourth game, the Vikings found the momentum when Lauf keyed an eight-point run with three blocks and a kill. He finished the match with 13 kills and eight blocks.

``The fourth game, I was at the right spot at the right time with the block,'' Lauf said. ``It pumped the team up. We needed a quick pick-me-up.''

Haigh, the Vikings' go-to player all season, struggled throughout the match. Although he finished with a team-high 23 kills, he hardly was consistent and was outright invisible at times and tentative as well.

But he found his rhythm in the fifth game with three quick kills and got seven in the game.

``I wasn't into it the first four games,'' he said. ``It's not a one- man-team. I had my teammates pull me through. I wasn't pumped up. I was a little intimidated. (Now), I'm so pumped. I couldn't be pumped up more.''

Feldt finished with 16 kills but his serving in the fifth game proved critical. Valencia trailed 10-6 when Feldt served eight consecutive points, including three aces, to bring the Vikings to match point.

Valencia also was helped by Santa Monica coach John Bradt not calling timeout in the run until Valencia had taken the lead.

``Their No. 31 (Clayton DiChrio), no offense to him or anything, but he wasn't passing good the whole match,'' Feldt said. ``I picked him, served his chest over and over.''

Chris Savage added 18 kills for Valencia.

Santa Monica was led by Saul Zemaitaitis' 39 kills, but he was most effective in the second and third games, when he got 20 kills. He was most invisible in the fifth game, when Valencia held him to just five kills.

Aaron Wexler had 23 kills for Santa Monica, followed by Jake Schkud (13 kills) and Dan Nabel (11 kills).

Valencia started quickly in the first game, jumping out to a 7-3 lead before Santa Monica tied the score at 9-9. It remained close until Wexler hit wide, giving the Vikings a 14-13 lead. Santa Monica staved off three game points before a Feldt kill won it.

In the next two games, Valencia trailed badly, fell further and further behind and showed no fight as it dug itself a deeper hole.

But in the fourth game, the magic returned.

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Photo:

Valencia's Chris Haigh, right, spikes the ball as Santa Monica's Mike Dahlin attempts to make the block Wednesday at Hart High in Newhall.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News