What: CIF State Volleyball Championships
Where: UC Irvine
First time champions: La Costa Canyon (D1), Cathedral Canyon (D3), Castilleja (D5).
Match MVPs: Kendall Polan (La Costa Canyon), Rachel Williams (Mitty), Lexi Williamson (Cathedral Catholic), Kristin Miller (Santa Fe Christian), Taylor Docter (Castilleja).
Facts: The San Diego Section claimed three titles (D1, D3 and D4). ... Mitty won its seventh crown, leaving only league-rival St. Francis (Mountain View) as the only school with more titles (eight). ... La Costa Canyon was the only public school to triumph. ...Attendance for the day was 2,455. ... Only one match went the distance (D5), another went four games (D3) and the rest were sweeps.
Video: See below
By Mitch Stephens
MaxPreps.comIRVINE, Calif. – The nation's top- ranked team La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) led three first-time state champions at Saturday's CIF Volleyball Championships at UC Irvine.
Castilleja (Palo Alto, Div. V) and Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Div. III) were other inital champions, while Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Div. II) claimed its seventh crown and Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach, Div. IV) not only was the only repeat victor, but claimed its fourth crown.
Here are reports from each of the five Divisions. Look for follow stories, photo galleries and video over the next two days.
Division I
La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) d. Homestead (Cupertino) 25-16, 25-16, 25-19
MaxPreps' No. 1 team nationally left little doubt it deserves the top spot as Katie Fuller and Lydia Rudnick combined for 24 kills and match MVP Kendall Polan added 35 assists.
Oregon-bound hitter Katherine Fischer had 17 kills but upstart Cupertino (30-9), making its first state appearance in any sport, was no match for the Mavericks (37-1), who was also in its initial trip to the title game.
Polan was masterful at spreading the ball to her array of weapons, which also included all-tournament selections Natalie Loos (nine kills) and Natalie Hagglund (four kills, 11 digs).
La Costa showed off its superior height and firepower while Homestead went primarily to Fischer, who took a whopping 57 attempts, more than 60 percent of her teams tries (90). The Mustangs converted only .111 of its attempts (27 of 90 with 17 errors), while La Costa was much more effecient at .330 (41 of 91, with 11 errors).
"I thought we came out a little nervous, but we passed the ball so well and got Kendall a lot of one-on-one opportunities," La Costa coach Pat McDougall said.
Homestead coach Matt Huffman and his team were extremely gracious in defeat and acknowleged the tall order it faced. They good-naturedly chanted "we're No. 2" leaving the press room.
The Mustangs also got six kills from Tori Carroll, 18 assists by Melissa Cheng and 10 digs each from Nicole Radish and Fischer.
"We played as well as we could against that team,” Hoffman said. “They just don’t make mistakes. You’ve really got to score all 25 of the points just about.”
La Costa, who avenged its only defeat with a victory over Santa Margarita in the regional final, is an extremely close-knit and poised group.
"We've worked so hard to get to this point," Hagglund said. "It feels awesome to finish off the long season to win this final game. It hasn't really sunk in yet though. I think I'll wake up tomorrow morning and just start crying. It's been an incredible ride."
MVP: Kendall Polan (LCC)
All-Tournament: Katherine Fischer (H); Katie Fuller, Natalie Hagglund and Natalie Loos (LCC)
Sportsmanship Award: Melissa Cheng (H), Laura Watt (LCC).
Video (Courtesy of Amy Calderone, Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area): Click here.
Division II
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) d. Redlands East Valley (Redlands) 25-21, 25-23, 25-21
Mitty coaches and their players are generally pretty stoic. It's on purpose, said senior libero Morgan O'Neill.
"We always want to appear composed," she said. "Like we can handle any situation."
After their win over Redlands East Valley, the Monarchs lost it.
Even coach Bret Almazan-Cezar.
The wild victory celebration was one thing. The need for Kleenix was another and unexpected.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever cried after a match,” he said said. “It’s just one of those teams. In one sense, I’m just so happy for them but in another, I’m so sad to see them go.”
Match MVP Rachel Williams had 13 kills for Mitty, the nation’s third-ranked team according to MaxPreps.com, Kristina Graven 11 and Joan Caloiaro added 33 assists. But it was the play of O'Neill that had a potent Redlands East Valley team frustrated. O’Neill made one spectacular dig after another and finished with a match-high 20.
“That’s so much fun,” O’Neil said. “I love it.”
The Monarchs have loved having O’Neil at defensive specialist this season after Almazan-Cezar asked her to move from an outside hitter spot. Mitty had four standouts and three spots. “We wanted the best athletes on the court and she didn’t hesitate,” he said.
Said O’Neil: “I just wanted to be on the court.”
That move alone may have vaulted the Monarchs from state runner-up to state champion. It’s another reason why the coach was so emotional.
“That unselfish act epitomizes this unselfish group,” Almazan-Cezar said.
Mitty made its 11th state title match appearance, tying St. Francis with the most in state history. With seven wins it ranks only behind St. Francis with eight.
East Valley was in every game, but couldn't come up with the big plays needed to overtake the much more experienced Monarchs.
The Wildcats got 14 kills from one of the nation's top sophomores Krista Vansant and eight kills by 6-4 middle blocker victoria Brummett. Vansant and setter Johnna Fouch (25 assists) had 12 digs apiece, Kyla Oropeza added 11 digs and Monica Gardner 10.
"They were and played a lot bigger than I thought," Almazan-Cezar said. "They were really good and made us work."
Said Redlands coach Tricia Vansant: "They were a lot calmer than us at the end of games and that was probably the difference. We were more chaotic. But I think we definitely made them earn it and we left it all out on the floor."
MVP: Rachel Williams (M)
All-Tournament: Morgan O'Neill and Taylor Smith (M); Johnna Fouch and Krista Vansant (REV)
Sportsmanship Award: Ryan Shaffer (M); Caitlin Fee (REV)
Video (Courtesy of Amy Calderone, Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area): Click here.
Division III
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) d. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco) 29-27, 20-25, 25-18, 25-14
Cathedral Catholic setter Rachel Oemcke tip-toed over to Lexi Williamson and told her what probably every one else knew.
“I told her I was going to set her,” Oemcke said. “I think she deserved it. She’d worked really hard since she her freshman year.”
Oh yes, and she was having the match of her life to boot.
“That too,” Oemcke said.
So Oemcke did set Williamson and the 6-foot-1 senior responded accordingly with one of her match-high 25 kills to punctuate the Dons’ first-ever state championship appearance with a hard-earned four-game victory over Sacred Heart Cathedral.
The outside hitter was the obvious choice for MVP presented at each of the five divisional championships, with 25 kills, 15 digs, five blocks and six aces, all team highs. Oemcke (44 assists) had plenty of other options, including national team player Kelly Reeves and Taylor Milton, who had 12 kills apiece.
“I can’t think of a better way to end my senior year,” Williamson said. “It was perfect.”
For two-and-half games, Sacred Heart Cathedral was about as good as it could be. The team was a high flying, fists flailing and happy-go-lucky.
But a more versatile and powerful squad seemed to take the fight out of the Fighting Irish. For the third time in three years, Sacred Heart fell in the title game.
The Irish (34-10), who have reached the state’s elite with a scrappy, defensive, never-give-in style, eventually wore down and simply couldn’t match the extra gear of Cathedral Catholic (34-4).
The all-around firepower and serving prowess of Cathedral Catholic helped offset the Irish one-two punch of hitters and all-tournament team selections Nicole Yap and Gabrielle Jolly, who had 22 and 18 kills, respectively. First-year Sacred Heart setter Fiona Lee had a stellar match with 43 assists and a team-high 13 digs.
“They really picked it up defensively the last two games and took us out of what we wanted to do,” Sacred Heart Cathedral coach Margi Beima. “We battled early but got outplayed the last two games.”
The Irish seemed to get tired chasing around outside hitters Milton and Reeves, leaving Williamson to unload.
“Got to give it to (Williamson),” Beima said. “She really hit the ball, served it…she did it all.”
Yap and Danielle Hechinger had 13 digs apiece for the Irish, who had just eight block assists to 25 for Cathedral Catholic. It was the second time the two teams faced off, with the Cathedral knocking the Irish in four games at the Mitty Tournament.
“(Sacred Heart) was much better this time,” Williamson said. “But I think we were too.”
MVP: Lexi Williamson (CC)
All-Tournament: Gabrielle Jolly and Nicole Yap (SHC); Taylor Milton and Kelly Reeves (CC).
Sportsmanship Award: Fiona Lee (SHC), Caitlin Conners (CC).
Video (Courtesy of Amy Calderone, Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area): Click here.
Division IV
Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach) d. Christian Brothers (Sacramento) 25-13, 25-19, 25-16
It was calm and measured and decisive. Santa Fe Christian (32-6), utilizing a superb serving, passing and setting to set up the big swing of 5-11 senior Kristin Miller, breezed to its second straight title and fourth overall in six tries.
Miller, named the match’s MVP had 17 kills without an error, and all-tournament selections Victoria Adelhelm and setter Taylor Johnson added nine kills and 37 assists respectively as the Eagles were at the top of their game largely because they got into offense so fluidly.
Libero MacKenzie Gilbert was nearly flawless and she added 19 digs.
“That was definitely one of our best matches of the year,” Miller said. “We just came in relaxed, knowing what we wanted to do and we did it. It feels great to get it done two years in a row.”
Eagles coach Gail Malone made up a motto “Two straight in ‘O8,” to help with complacency, though the team really didn’t come alive this year until a loss in a San Diego Section finals rival Bishop’s.
Malone said she had scouted Christian Brothers (34-8) thoroughly and the key was to not only match the Falcons’ strong middle, but set quickly outside. That’s just what Johnson did and the Eagles were never really challenged despite nine kills from Kayla Neto and a combined 15 from Katie Hoeman, Erika Cuevas and Whitney Swain.
Christian Brothers setter Kelly Pelz added 23 assists, but the Falcons had a tough time receiving serve. Santa Fe Christian had 12 aces to four for the Falcons.
“We weren’t able to get into our set and slide and that’s our bread and butter,” Christian Brothers coach Jeff Deter said. “We persevered a lot to get here and I’m proud of our effort but it’s a little disappointing we didn’t play our best.”
Said Malone: “I’m real proud of the team. We came in with a job to do and the girls carried it out. We lived the dream.”
MVP: Kristin Miller (SFC)
All-Tournament: Katie Hoekman and Kayla Neto (CB); Victoria Adelhelm and Taylor Johnson (SFC).
Sportsmanship Award: Kelly Pelz (CB); Emily Robertson (SFC).
Video (By Mitch Stephens, MaxPreps senior writer/columnist): Click here.
Division VCastilleja (Palo Alto) d. Tri-City Christian (Vista) 25-10, 21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 16-14
Taylor Docter had a dream last night and it was more along the lines of a nightmare.
“I played really bad and we lost the match,” she said. “That made me kind of nervous coming in.”
Turns out, Doctor had a fairytale and vision to remember as she sent down the match-winning point, a driving cross-court smash that ended one of the most memorable and topsy-turvy Div. V matches in history.
Behind match MVP Docter, The Gators (18-16) fought off match points in the fourth and fifth game to claim their first title in three tries over a seemingly superior Tri-City team making its first state appearance.
Docter, a 6-foot senior who was on the losing end of the other state-final appearances in 2005 and 2006, finished with 15 digs and a team-high 18 kills, the last after a perfect set from all-tournament selection Morgan Jones (43 assists, 10 digs). It’s a vision, she said she’ll never forget. Once she remembered it.
“To be honest, it’s all so surreal, it’s hard to recall,” Docter said 30 minutes after the match. “I remember a real tight set, the block off to my left so I just went hard the other way. When it hit the ground, I just remember being under a sea of people.”
Docter got plenty of hitting help from Adrienne Dreyfus (17 kills) and Erin McLaughlin (13 kills) and it helped offset huge matches from the Eagles’ Miranda Ramirez (22 kills), Brittany Thompson (15 kills), Marissa Smith (25 digs) and setter Taylor Mehl (46 assists). Freshman Jay Reinke was also outstanding for the Eagles with 10 kills.
“I think this just shows our tenacity and heart,” Castilleja coach Tracie Meskell said. “We definitely made some errors and let down in games two and three but when we needed a point our girls fought all the way through.”
The fifth game was a microcosm of the first four games, as Tri-City (23-15) looked in command up 10-6 after a pair of kills from Thompson, but after Dreyfus sent one down, Shelly Steyer went on a five-point service run, keyed by two kills from McLaughlin. That gave Castilleja a 12-10 lead, but the Eagles rattled off four of the next five to gain match point 14-13 after two service points by Thompson.
But Thompson went for the win and recorded a service error to tie the match at 14-14. Dreyfus served an ace and Docter delivered the match-ender. Just like that the Gators were champs.
“I’m still in shock,” Meskell said. “We played amazing defense the last two games.”
After Dreyfus and Castilleja controlled the first game, the Eagles looked in some trouble when it fell behind 3-0 and 4-1 in the second, but a four-point service run that included two aces from sophomore Natalie Mondle to give Tri-City an 8-5 lead.
The Eagles increased the lead to 19-13 on a kill from Thompson, but Dreyfus brought the Gators back again with a pair of aces that led to a 7-3 run to close to 22-20. Ramirez then put it away with a kill and a tip off a block that went out of bounds, that gave Tri-City game 2.
The third game was a classic see-saw affair. Castilleja jumped to leads of 4-1, 5-3 and 8-5 before Reinke went on a nine-point service run to seemingly put the Gators away, leading 15-8. But Castilleja scrapped back taking 10 of the next 13 points to go up 18-17. Three service points from Dreyfus tied the score at 21-21, but Tri-City proved too tough taking the last four points, started with a cross-court stuff by Thompson and finished off again by Ramirez with a blast down the line for game point.
“I thought we were going to come all the way back,” said Ramirez, a 5-9 junior outside hitter. “We really fought back after that first game.”
If game three didn’t turn stomachs, the fourth definitely did. Like every game, Castilleja jumped out quick with a 7-1 lead, but the Eagles quickly bounced back with seven straight to go up 8-7. There were four ties and five lead changes until the Eagles seemed to take control with a 9-3 run to go up 20-17 after a kill from Thompson. A cross court kill by Dreyfus closed to 21-20, however Tri-City eventually got to match point at 24-23. But a dump by Dreyfus and two kills from Docter, the game winner that landed a foot inside the line gave them the hard-earned 26-24 win, sending it to the fifth.
“I think that’s where we lost it,” Tri-City coach Kristen Wright said. “We should have finished it off in the fourth. It was definitely a battle and I’m proud of my girls for the season they had. We plan to be back.”
Said Docter: “We read in the press that we were the most likely team to lose so that really fired us up. I’m not saying we won to spite people. But it didn’t hurt to prove others wrong.”
MVP: Taylor Docter (C)
All-Tournament: Erin McLaughlin and Morgan Jones (C); Miranda Ramirez and Marissa Smith (TCC).
Sportsmanship Award: Erin McLaughlin (C), Taylor Mehl (TCC).
Video (Courtesy of Amy Calderone, Cal-Hi Sports Bay Area): Click here.
E-mail Mitch Stephens at mstephens@maxpreps.com.
