Carmel volleyball

 Perhaps the biggest ovation all year from an appreciative crowd, stood for 45 seconds and applauded the efforts Friday of an historic volleyball season.

 Carmel won't be playing for a Northern California Division II title. But the milestones it achieved this spring are what other programs will be chasing.

 "This is the team that others will look to emulate in the future,'' Carmel coach Israel Ricardez said. "I don't know if we'll see this again. It was a once in a lifetime experience."

 The Padres record breaking season ended Friday, falling in five sets to Harker 25-20, 19-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-8 at Carmel.

 This time it was Harker gaining a measure of redemption from falling to Carmel in the Central Coast Section Division III title match 13 days ago.

 "We'd like to think our section title was bigger,'' Ricardez smiled. "That's by far the best team we've faced all year."

 Carmel went five sets in both matches against Harker this spring, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to win the programs first ever CCS title on May 12.

 "This season just wasn't for us,'' senior Aidan Westerman said. "But for the players that came before us and laid the groundwork. Some of us have brothers that came before us."

 The Padres rattled off  a school record 24 consecutive wins this year en route to shattering the single season school mark for wins with 31.

 The reigning three-time Gabilan Division champions went undefeated in league for the third straight year. During its run of 24 straight wins, it swept 18 opponents.

 "I'm more happy for what we achieved this year than what we didn't," said Westerman, who played with a twisted ankle, which occurred in Tuesday's win.

 Five seniors gave up their senior trip to take part in the semifinals, and played their hearts out until the final point.

 "You know what is satisfying?" Ricardez said. "It's the hard work these kids put in from day. We've been at this since February. What a run."

 What Carmel couldn't do is sustain the momentum generated from capturing sets two and three, as it was forced to play catchup in the fourth set after an early 3-0 lead.

 Kills from Cole Dickman and Ben Airola helped the Padres cut a five-point deficit to 22-20 before Harker scored the final three points to send the match to a fifth set.

 "Honestly, all I was thinking about in that fifth set was playing my heart out," Westerman said. "I've been with some of these guys for four years. This is like my family."

 Carmel never got going in the final set, spotting the Eagles four quick points.

 "The first four points were unforced errors on our part,'' Ricardez said. "Give Harker some credit. No shame in losing to that team."

 Much like the first match with Harker in the CCS finals, the Padres dropped the first set. Yet, the adjustments in the second set paid immediate dividends in a 25-21 win.

 "We knew Harker would come in with something to prove," Ricardez said. "We adjusted and had the momentum. But to their credit, they adjusted."

  Dickman was a menace in the middle for the Padres, blocking shots and putting down kills along with Keegan Forrester, both feeding off of sets from Charlie DeLapa.

 Joaquin Buenrostro and Ben Ariola both came up big at the serving line in the second set, igniting  8-3 and 8-1 runs, while Chase McCrystal came off the bench to provide two big kills.

 "I reminded the kids before we shook hands with Harker after the match that they will remember this season for the rest of their lives," Ricardez said. "I may coach 30 years. But I'll never forget this."