OCEANSIDE OCEANSIDE — There was a moment during the second half of Avocado East League play when Oceanside’s girls volleyball team wasn’t sure what it’s identity was.
Injuries were piling up, attitudes were flaring and losses were being absorbed — six out of seven in one stretch.
That’s when head coach Nathan Fristed challenged his team, the players challenged each other and the program made a decision to press the gas pedal to see what exactly they are made of.
Oceanside will play Friday for the first state volleyball championship in school history after riding riding their senior leadership to a 3-0 sweep over visiting Orangewood Academy, 25-16, 27-25, 25-22, on Tuesday in the CIF State Division V Southern California Regional Final.
Apparently, the Pirates are made of grit and resiliency.
“We readjusted our lineup, and our senior-led team just sort of mellowed it out,” Fristed said of the accepted challenge in October. “It’s been a pretty cool run so far.”
Oceanside (24-11) will play Crystal Springs Uplands at 4 p.m. Santiago Canyon College.
Senior opposite Feagaiga Naotala led the way with 15 kills, 13 digs and three aces. She notched six kills in the crucial second set, including crushing a ball down the line to end a long rally at 23-23.
It was the theme of the night for the Pirates, who seemed to win every long rally thanks to a defense that refused to let the ball drop and an offense that spread the ball around behind Elena Gonzalez-Hughes.
“It was integrity, and it was us being focused,” said Naotala of the key to turning the season around as well as winning Tuesday. “Us coming this far is such a proud moment.”
Gonzalez-Hughes is listed on the Oceanside roster at three positions — setter, libero and outside hitter — and for good reason. A libero for the Pirates before this season, she switched to setter (her club position) and will play beach volleyball next year for Cal State Northridge.
She impacted the game from all three phases, notching a game-high 34 assists, digging 11 balls and finishing a perfect 4-for-4 on dumps.
“We had to push or else the season was going to be done, and I didn’t want this to be our last game,” Gonzalez-Hughes said. “Nobody believed we were ever going to do this. I’m really excited I get to be a part of it. If we go in (Friday) with that same mentality, it’s going to push us to be the best we can be.”
The Spartans (23-12) went up 6-1 in the third set after leading early in each of the first two sets. But the Pirates defense never rests. Libero Kaylee Noa seemingly kept every rally going until Naotala, Mikayla Poumele-Flores (nine kills) and pretty much every hitter put up strong swings.
Down 15-14 in the third, Noa had three digs in one rally.
“It’s relentlessness,” said Noa, a 5-foot-3 junior. “Everybody just goes for everything. Everybody puts everything out on the court to make sure we get every ball up.
“Our whole starting lineup is seniors. They help calm me down. I feel really proud I get to play with these amazing girls.”
Oftentimes coaching is knowing when to push and when to back off. Fristed pushed the right buttons at the right time, and the Pirates are one win away from hanging another championship banner after winning the Division IV CIF San Diego section 10 days ago.
“There are two black banners for football,” Fristed said. “Try to find a volleyball banner in our gym, and that’s a pretty hard thing. It feels outstanding. It’s the girls’ program. I’m just the facilitator. They’re going to drive this and take it where they want it go. I’m just the one who’s driving the bus.”
