It was the record-tying sixth Durango championship for the program, equaling Kentucky power
Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) as six top 10 teams from the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings reached the quarterfinals.
Mater Dei's win over Sierra Canyon is likely the first chapter in a three-act play in a race for the Southern Section and CIF Southern California championships. Last year, Sierra Canyon beat Mater Dei in the section final before the Monarchs bested the Trailblazers on their run to the Open Division state crown.
Mater Dei players celebrate their Durango Fall Classic final win over No. 1 Sierra Canyon. It was the third title in four years for the Monarchs at volleyball's deepest tournament. (PHOTO: Jenni Webber)
On Saturday, the Monarchs got seven kills and three aces from freshman
Jimin Seung, five kills from
Westley Matavao and four kills from
Katherine Nowak.
"Your serve-receive cannot break down to the point where you're neutralized as much as we were tonight," Sierra Canyon coach Stefanie Wigfall said.
"I think our passing trio of West, Kat and Sienna is beyond fantastic. All tournament long, those three are just controlling the court and that allows our setters to set whoever they want," Mater Dei coach Dan O'Dell said. "And we have so many (hitting) options they kind of pick and choose who gets kills throughout the game."
"I was worried coming into match four of the day because Sierra Canyon is so good, but I think these girls get fired up to play them and found that last burst," O'Dell said.
It's the second straight year the Trailblazers have fallen in the Durango title match.
"I told the girls we're going to take the L and learn because that's what championship teams do," Wigfall said. "You have to remind them we're not peaking today. It would be great to win this tournament and we wanted to win this tournament, but we're not looking to peak today and if we can build (on our successes this weekend) and believe that then we'll see them (in the postseason)."
UCLa commit Westley Matavao earned tournament MVP honors and had five kills in the title match. (PHOTO: Jenni Webber)
All-tournament team
Scores
Gold bracketFinalMater Dei def. Sierra Canyon — 25-18, 25-17
Third-place game
Semifinals
Sierra Canyon def. Orangewood Christian — 20-25, 26-24, 25-15
Mater Dei def. Cornerstone Christian — 25-19, 19-25, 25-23
QuarterfinalsSierra Canyon def.
'Iolani (Honolulu, Hawaii) — 25-19, 25-14
Orangewood Christian def.
Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) — 15-25, 26-24, 25-21
Cornerstone Christian def.
Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) — 25-21, 25-22
Mater Dei def.
Marist (Chicago, Ill.) — 30-28, 25-21
Qualifying roundSierra Canyon def.
Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) — 25-23, 21-25, 25-21
'Iolani def.
Harrisburg (S.D.) — 25-22, 25-20
Prestonwood Christian def.
Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) — 25-22, 22-25, 25-21
Orangewood Christian def.
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) — 25-12, 25-14
Assumption def.
Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.) — 25-17, 25-23
Cornerstone Christian def.
Torrey Pines (San Diego, Calif.) — 25-21, 18-25, 27-25
Marist def.
Xavier College Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) — 25-21, 25-22
Mater Dei def.
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) — 25-21, 25-19
Mater Dei tied Kentucky power Assumption with its sixth Durango Fall Classic title. The Monarchs had won three Vegas championships in four years. (PHOTO: Jenni Webber)
Silver Division champion
Bronze Division champion
Competition Division champion
Classic Division champion
Contender Division champion
Challenger Division champion
Character Division champion
