It was fitting the final kill of the CIF Division II volleyball final came from the hands of
Campbell Hall (North Hollywood) senior hitter
Mila Mijailovic. After all, the Yale commit's hands were all over the Vikings' 25-21, 25-17, 25-14 sweep of
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (San Francisco) on Saturday at Santiago Canyon College.
Mijailovic hit .514 for the match with 21 kills, many blistered past Fighting Irish defenders.
"I definitely wanted it," she said of pounding the match-ending kill.
The Vikings were in firm control of the third set up 24-14 after a kill from
Sierra Starkman put her squad on the brink of their first title in their first appearance. But the Fighting Irish weren't going down without a fight and pushed a potential kill at the Vikings that had their defense scrambling.
Mijailovic dug a ball and sent it into the air for setter
Althea Morris, while at the same time calling for the ball to come back to her on the left side.
"It was such a scrappy (point) and to be able to end it was sweet," she said.
Mila Mijailovic had 21 kills to lead Campbell Hall to its first volleyball title with a sweep of Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in the CIF Division II finals on Saturday. (Photo: Eric Hamilton)
Mijailovic opened the match with a kill in the opening set as part of her nine winners in the first. The Vikings would open a lead of 19-11 before Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep fought back to 23-17, but Mijailovic's teammates
Ella Del Pero and Starkman pounded kills before a SHCP hitting error ended the set.
"It was a hard-fought match and they (Campbell Hall) really showed up and we tried to answer back," Fighting Irish coach Symone Mackiewicz said. "We're a small team and know how to play against bigger teams."
But the relentless offensive attack of Campbell Hall combined with a defense that seemingly dug everything made it an uphill climb.
"We played close to our best and they had intent in what they were doing," said Campbell Hall coach Kay Thyer.
Starkman had 10 kills for the Vikings,
Bella Marrero had 19 digs and Morris served up 329 assists.
For Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep,
Sarah Caulderled the team with 10 kills and 21 digs while
Sarah Chow had 15 assists.
