Orange Lutheran boys volleyball tops St. Margaret's in Division 2 semifinals

ORANGE – The gym floor at Orange Lutheran might need some refurbishment. Maybe repaint some striping that was chipped away. Perhaps repair some divots on a court that took a beating Saturday night.

That is how hard Lancers outside hitter Sam Utu spikes the ball.

Utu had 29 kills, most of them at the velocity of a Mason Miller fastball, as the Lancers beat St. Margaret's, 25-18, 17-25, 25-15, 28-26, in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 boys volleyball playoffs.

Orange Lutheran (24-10) will play Edison (20-14) in the championship game Friday, May 15, or Saturday, May 16. The match might be played at Cerritos College.

The specific location, date and time will be announced by CIF-SS on Monday.

Edison beat Camarillo in five sets Saturday in the other Division 2 semifinal.

Orange Lutheran lost to Tesoro last season in the Division 3 final. The Lancers won CIF-SS boys volleyball championships in 2005 and 2018.

Utu is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds and is on his way to Southern Methodist University on a football scholarship. He was All-Orange County first-team selection as an offensive lineman.

St. Margaret's (25-5), with only eight players on its roster, won two playoff games after winning the Pacific Coast League championship this season.

Utu's power and quick feet impressed St. Margaret's coach Bob Yoder.

"He's pretty unique," Yoder said. "He doesn't jump that high, he hits the ball low, his hits are super heavy and he moves around really well."

Orange Lutheran coach Henry Valiente has seen plenty of Utu, of course.

"If there's anyone in the world that could pop a ball consistently," Valiente said, "it's him. I've played volleyball for 20 years. I've never been afraid of getting hit by the ball until I played defense against that guy."

Orange Lutheran senior outside hitter Josiah Trautman had 18 kills and seven digs.

Utu's uncle, Junior Uth, also was a two-way standout – basketball and volleyball – in high school at La Quinta in the 1990s. Utu said playing for a CIF-SS championship was in Orange Lutheran's plans for months.

"This means a lot to all of us, especially the seniors," he said. "When our team would hang out together early in the season we all said we were destined to win a championship and do great things."

Valiente said the opportunity to win a CIF title is important, but he had another reason to celebrate Saturday's win.

"As a coaching staff, we want to be around these guys as much as possible," Valiente said. "We want more time with them, and we're getting that."

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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 9:49 PM.