The Carlsbad Lancers varsity volleyball team ended their historic run in the CIF playoffs May 24, becoming the third team in school history to try for a CIF Championships and the first to enter the regional state playoffs.

In the CIF open division Quarterfinals on May 20, the lancers were in the third seed of playoffs (18-10) and took on Cathedral Catholic, the sixth seed (18-13),.  Winning the game 3 to 1, qualifying for the semifinals.

In the semis, the Lancers (19-10), away,  defeated Torrey Pines the second seed (20-5),on May 22, 3 sets to 0. The service received by the Lancers reached a near season high and the passing percentages peaked throughout the game. The game silenced the large student section at Torrey Pines and successfully swiped the scoreless Falcons.

“The Torrey game was the best game of the season, we were down 21-24 in the second set, then Jakob put on for the city to win the game in 3,” senior captain Taylor Bloomquist said.

Next came the big show.

The Lancers (3)(19-11) took on number one seed La Costa Canyon (26-6), undefeated in league play ,in the Open Division CIF Finals. The game took place at the neutral site Cathedral Catholic High School on May 24.

The scores to each set remained close, each team overtaking the other. The lancers relying on the big 3, Jakob Karlsson, Bloomquist and Emerson Waumans  to start each set with a 7 point lead, and the Mavericks relied on seniors Kendall Ratter and Kekoa Pukahi to compensate for the deficit.

But the La Costa Canyon Mavericks prevailed winning the game 3 sets to 0.  Coincidentally winning each set by a score of 23-25.

“I thought we played well but in the end we did not have enough horses to beat LCC,” senior Jakob Karlsson said.

Despite the loss, the Lancers ended their playoff run in high spirits.

”I thought I ended up where we should of seen I feel we deserved to be in the finals, We accomplished the goal we set at the beginning of the season,” Waumans said.

Even though Carlsbad did not win, they earned a bid into the California Regional state playoffs, attributed too their number one ranking in the San Diego Division 1 section.

As they enter the next leg of their volleyball career the team reflected on their last season of high school volleyball.

“Crowd Support has been the best its been all season through playoffs and that helped us with our run deep into the playoffs,” Bloomquist said. “I am confident that next year we will be back in the same spot as the competition will not be as strong as this season and our team has many talented underclassman.”

The big 3 credit this years success with the perseverance of Bloomquist.

“Every since the heart surgery a couple years ago Taylor has built himself as a supreme athlete at Carlsbad High School and led us to the CIF finals, and we hope he can do the same for the Pioneers at Sacred Heart,” said Karlsson.