Chargers down Oilers

Edison moved a step closer to securing the 2006 Sunset League boys’ volleyball championship Tuesday by defeating Huntington Beach, 23-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-18.

Following two tightly contested games to open the match, Edison began to pull away from the Oilers late in game No. 3. They dominated play up front to pull away for a 25-19 win, then led the entire way in game No. 4, leading by as much as 17-3.

“It was a good win for us,” Edison co-head coach Brian Boone said. “They’re a good team.”

The Chargers completed a league series sweep of the Oilers. They also defeated Huntington, 3-1, on March 28.

Edison’s all-around solid team play saw senior outside hitter Tommy Pestolesi get a team-high 20 kills. Senior outside hitter Tim Golden finished with 15 kills, and junior middle blocker Phil Darin had 13. Sophomore middle blocker Carl Eberts had nine kills and four blocks, senior defensive specialist Kenny Webster had 18 digs and junior setter Corey Ferraro notched 55 assists.

The Chargers, who are ranked second this week in CIF Division I, are now 7-0 in league and 22-5 overall.

Senior outside hitter Trey Valbuena had a match-best 21 kills, and sophomore opposite Tony Ciarelli had 12 kills for the Oilers, who dropped to 5-2 in the league and 11-3 overall.

Previously, Huntington knocked off then-No. 2 Newport Harbor, 25-19, 25-16, 25-27, 25-17, in nonleague play.

Trey Valbuena had 20 kills and Alex Tonjes had six kills and was in on 11 blocks to lead the Oilers, who were ranked 10th coming into the match.

Huntington showed no letdown two nights later, as the Oilers took to the road and took care of Marina with a 26-24, 25-19, 25-8 sweep of the host Vikings in Sunset League action.

Rory Jones had eight kills for the Oilers, who rose to No. 5 in the poll with the wins over Marina and Newport.

Edison twice defeated Sunset League rival Fountain Valley in a two-day period. First, the Chargers scored a 25-15, 25-19, 25-21 win over the Barons. Tim Golden had 13 kills and Tommy Pestolesi 12 to lead Edison. The Chargers also recorded a 25-18, 25-12, 25-15 victory on Friday.