Hard serves key to Lighthouse middle school win

By Michael Ashcraft --

Ava Ayala is mostly shy and quiet. But on the volleyball court, she made herself heard with a serving streak that powered the Lighthouse Church School to victory over Archer.

"I got confidence from practicing," Ava says.

Her friend and classmate, Hana Moon, slammed over another bunch of serves to seal the W in Set 3 for the middle school.

Archer, among LA's most renowned schools, has a storied volleyball program, but the little ladies from Santa Monica showed their pedigree.

LCS is the training academy of the future stars that make waves in high school. Last year's LCS star, Kallie McKinney made her debut into varsity volleyball with aces and kills.

I'm here, she announced.

Meanwhile, the other teams in the CIF's Omega League keep hoping, praying, fasting for Lighthouse to have a down year, a normal things for any sports program when seniors graduate and they have a team in formation.

What's the secret to the Lighthouse Christian Academy's ongoing success at volleyball. The momentum is born of passion. The girls love the game. Little sisters watch their older siblings kill it and aspire to become like them.

Thus, tiny Shiloh Jenkins aims to follow in Jillian Jenkins' footsteps.

The high school sealed its league undefeated for the third straight year and advanced one round in playoffs this year.

LCS won set #1 by 25-19, lost set #2 by 23-25 and finished off Archer in set #3 by 15-12.

They have won 8 games and lost 2 this season.