The Mater Dei Excessive ladies’ volleyball workforce had lots to play for after coming inside one victory of a 3rd consecutive Southern Part title.
The Monarchs rapidly turned the web page and set their sights on the state championship. Now they discover themselves one win away from attaining that after upsetting No. 1 Sierra Canyon, 20-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-16, within the Southern California Regional Open Division remaining Tuesday night time in Chatsworth.
Exterior hitter Westley Matavao led the way in which with 18 kills and afterward gave a shout-out to her cousin on the other facet of the online, Missouri-bound setter and fellow junior Fortunate Fasavalu.
“We’re household, I really like her as an individual, she involves play each match and she or he is aware of how one can run an offense,” mentioned Matavao, an early decide to UCLA. “We wished this a lot after dropping to them final time and we got here out swinging tonight.”
A thunderous kill by Addison Coady ended the third set and Mater Dei opened a seven-point lead early within the fourth to make sure there can be no comeback by the house facet.
“We performed with a lot confidence and our vitality confirmed up,” Matavao added. “We’ve particular serving targets so we targeted on that and have been in nice place on our blocking.”
Mater Dei will attempt to seize its third state Open Division title at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Santiago Canyon School in Orange, the place the Monarchs (34-5) face Northern California champion Rocklin (37-4), which upset top-seeded Archbishop Mitty in 5 units Tuesday.
Layli Ostovar had 14 and 21 digs, Emma Kingston had 10 kills and 6 blocks, Lizzy Robinson had 19 digs, Kalea Lee had 24 assists, Sam Capinpin had 17 assists and Jael Smith had six blocks.
The Monarchs not solely avenged their loss within the part remaining, they snapped Sierra Canyon’s 19-match profitable streak and handed the Trailblazers (41-4) their solely defeat in California all season.
Mater Dei received its first 9 head-to-head conferences with Sierra Canyon earlier than dropping in 4 units within the Southern Part Division 1 remaining Nov. 8 at Cerritos School. It was the Trailblazers’ fourth part title and halted Mater Dei’s bid for a three-peat below head coach Dan O’Dell.
Mater Dei received its first state Open Division title in 2018 and its second in 2023.
