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Orange Lutheran tops No. 1 seed Beckman in first round of boys volleyball playoffs

April 29, 2026

IRVINE – Orange Lutheran boys volleyball coach Henry Valiente said the first-round match would resemble the quality of a championship match.

The level of play was high Tuesday when the Lancers played No. 1 seed Beckman in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs at Beckman High.

Orange Lutheran’s physical advantages were apparent as the Lancers beat Beckman in four sets, 25-14, 18-25, 25-23, 25-21.

The Lancers (22-10) will be home against Fountain Valley (21-9) in the second round of the playoffs Tuesday, May 5. Fountain Valley beat Hillcrest in four sets in the first round.

Senior outside hitter Sam Utu led Orange Lutheran with 22 kills and senior outside hitter Josiah Trautman added 16 kills and three blocks.

Utu, who is 6-4, 320 pounds, is an All-Orange County offensive lineman who signed with Southern Methodist University. As a volleyball player, he bounces around the court and his spikes are viciously powerful.

Trautman, who has long arms and is 6-5, 170, delivers high-velocity kills, too.

“We’ve got some big boys who want to hammer the ball,” Valiente said.

Orange Lutheran played Beckman in the the first round of the Division 2 playoffs two year ago, and Beckman won that match in four sets.

Valiente thought that was the last time he would have Utu on his volleyball team. Utu did not play volleyball his junior year but came back to the program this season.

Beckman, which finished the season 22-10, was not at full strength. Senior outside hitter Gavin Looney, hampered by a back injury, sat out the first couple of sets before gutting it out and playing in the latter half of the match. Josiah Suhr, a senior setter and team captain, played although he has been ill in recent days.

The Patriots were led by junior outside hitter Robert Linker’s 16 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Ryder Suttle contributed 12 kills.

Valiente figured his team had to be on top of its game to beat the Patriots.

“They’re amazing and so well-coached,” Valiente said. “I respect them so much. I knew it would be a hard-fought match.”

Orange Lutheran led throughout the first set. The Lancers scored six of the set’s first seven points on their way to the 25-14 win.

Linker was a kill master in the second set, leading the Patriots to their 25-18 win.

Beckman led early in the third set before Utu and junior middle blocker Dane Geisen pushed Orange Lutheran into the lead and the 25-23 win.

The fourth set was close, too, with two Utu kills producing the Lancers’ 24th and 25th points to win the set and match.

Orange Lutheran finished fifth in the six-team Trinity League, which as it is in so many sports is a rugged group. League champion Santa Margarita and second-place Mater Dei are in Division 1 for the playoffs.

Trautman said playing in that circuit gets a team ready for the playoffs.

“Playing against those big boys, I’m really grateful for it,” said Trautman, who committed to Vanguard University. “It’s super helpful when it comes to building resilience.”

Beckman finished third in the South Coast League. All five South Coast League teams concluded the regular season with winning records. The Patriots’ nonleague schedule included five-set losses to Santa Margarita and Mater Dei, and five-set league losses to Tesoro, which, like Santa Margarita and Mater Dei, is a Division 1 playoff team.

Orange County Register

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Orange Lutheran tops No. 1 seed Beckman in first round of boys volleyball playoffs

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