Because the 2025 highschool women volleyball marketing campaign will get underway, no program within the Southland is garnering as a lot consideration as Mater Dei — and for good cause.
Led by reigning Coach of the Yr Dan O’Dell, the Monarchs have gained back-to-back CIF Southern Part Division 1 titles and try to develop into solely the second workforce in part annals to seize three straight within the high playoff division.
The primary college to three-peat within the highest division was Newport Harbor, which gained three straight Division 1AA titles from 1997-99 below coach Dan Glenn.
Spearheading Mater Dei’s chase for historical past are reigning Participant of the Yr Layli Ostovar, a senior exterior hitter dedicated to USC for seashore and indoor, and fellow All-CIF exterior hitter Westley Matavao, who flourished as a sophomore for the Monarchs following a compulsory sit-out interval after transferring from Orange Lutheran.
Audrey Flanagan, of Mira Costa , extends to succeed in a volleyball throughout a match.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
Matavao, an early decide to UCLA, had 12 kills within the last of the Durango Basic in Las Vegas in September and was named the event MVP. She ended final season with 276 kills (3.5 per set) and 284 digs in 80 units. Final Tuesday, the junior picked up proper the place she left off, pounding 15 kills and serving three aces in a season-opening four-set conquer San Clemente.
Ostovar was the workforce’s kill-leader final fall with 337. Her sisters — setter Ayva and libero Kayla — graduated within the spring, however the Monarchs deliver again three robust center blockers in Addison Coady, Emma Kingston and Sierra Robinson.
Mater Dei gained back-to-back Division 1 crowns in 2017 and 2018 (additionally below O’Dell) however its bid for 3 in a row ended with a four-set loss to Redondo Union within the finals in 2019.
Ought to it pull off a trifecta, this yr’s squad would equal the feat the Monarchs achieved in capturing three straight Division IIA titles from 2001-03 below Craig Pazanti, at the moment the girls and boys coach at his alma mater, Huntington Seashore.
The most important menace to Mater Dei’s supremacy within the Trinity League figures to be Santa Margarita, which returns All-CIF exterior hitters Eire Actual (a U19 USA Volleyball workforce member who had 543 kills as a sophomore for the Eagles final fall) and Memphis Burnett. Orange Lutheran returns setter/hitter Marley Robinson and JSerra’s assault is led by opposites Katherine and Charlotte Nowak.
Redondo Union is one in every of a number of groups with the firepower to dethrone Mater Dei. The Seahawks established themselves because the favorites within the talent-laden Bay League by ending runner-up on the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii for a second straight time, falling to Byron Nelson of Texas in Saturday’s championship match. On its march to the Gold Division last, Tommy Chaffins’ squad ousted JSerra, league rival Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon.
The Seahawks are flying excessive because of Cal-bound exterior Abby Zimmerman, libero Addi Junk and reverse hitter Avery Junk (twins who’re Florida State seashore commits) and All-CIF center blocker Taylor Boice (UC Irvine). Zimmerman is among the most well-rounded gamers in California and final season’s stats show it: 429 kills, 259 digs, 63 blocks and 57 aces.
Layli Ostovar, of Mater Dei, extends to hit the volleyball throughout a match.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
Mira Costa desires revenge after getting upset by Redondo Union within the CIF-SS seashore finals on Might 3 and the Mustangs from Manhattan Seashore are greater than succesful with a steady of out of doors hitters that features Audrey Flanagan, Simone Roslon and Cayenne Ceman, and USC-bound setter Milly McGee. Flanagan pounded 478 kills a yr in the past and is headed to Wisconsin. Roslon has dedicated to Stanford and Ceman has dedicated to Northeastern. Regardless of the commencement of Taylor Decker (now at USC), who was a three-year starter at libero, Mira Costa has gone undefeated in league 4 years in a row and is set to increase that streak.
The final college not named Mater Dei to win the highest prize within the Southern Part was Sierra Canyon, which swept Mira Costa within the finals in 2022. The Trailblazers are contenders as soon as extra with junior exterior hitters Hanna McGinest (452 kills in 2024) and Eva Jeffries (415 kills), each of whom are daughters of former professional athletes. The roster additionally options Missouri commit Fortunate Fasavalu (who can each set and hit) and two junior transfers—center and Nebraska commit Kendall Omoruyi and hitter McKenna McIntosh, a USC commit.
Defending the Mission League crown shall be a problem for Sierra Canyon as a result of Marymount is itching to unseat its archival, having dropped three conferences with the Trailblazers final season. Returning for the Sailors are hitter Sammy Destler (a Washington commit), setter Olivia Penske (a Georgetown commit), center Elle Vandeweghe (a Southern Methodist commit) and junior pin hitter Makenna Barnes.
Cari Klein coached Marymount to 6 straight titles (5 in Division IVAA and the final in IA) from 2001-06 — nonetheless the part file — and three consecutive from 2010-12 (the primary two in 1A and the final in 1AA, then the highest division).
Huntington Seashore misplaced All-CIF libero Olivia Foye (now at Princeton) however exterior hitter Addison Williams (a Hawaii commit) and the Oilers will battle for the Sundown League crown with Los Alamitos, which is paced by libero Kaitlyn Herweg.
Murrieta Valley and Palos Verdes clashed for the Division 2 title final yr however each rosters look considerably totally different. All-CIF sophomore hitter Summer season Tukua returns however the champion Nighthawks graduated eight gamers, together with MVP Miley Thunstrom. Palos Verdes misplaced three All-CIF gamers: high hitter and Stanford commit Kaci Demaria, LSU seashore commit Molly LeBreche and UCLA seashore commit Mallory LaBreche.
Below coach Arman Mercado, defending Metropolis Part Open Division champion Taft gained 40 or extra matches in every of the three earlier seasons, however the core of that group graduated final spring, together with Co-Gamers of the Yr Aleiah Carr and Francine Baltazar-Shine, libero Gianella Tijamo and All-Metropolis exterior hitter Eva Velarde. Returning are defensive specialist Jasmine Orellana, setter Alexa Barajas and reverse Laila Braimah.
Open Division finalist Venice returns All-Metropolis first-teamers Gaia Adeseun-Williams and setter Kaya Richards and second-team choose Samantha Lortie. Palisades is hungry for its first title in 5 years with hitter Tulah Block and libero Lucy Neilson.
