CIF State Regional Volleyball Championship roundup — Mitty, Mater Dei prevail
SAN JOSE — Archbishop Mitty's girls volleyball program is heading back home.
The California leader in state championships — by a wide margin — returns to the CIF State finals following a dominating 25-12, 25-21, 19-25, 25-10 home win Tuesday versus West Catholic Athletic League rival Saint Francis in the Northern California Open Division regional final.
The Monarchs (33-4) will play Mater Dei-Santa Ana, the nation's No. 2 team, in Saturday's state final at Santiago Canyon College in Orange. Mater Dei The Monarchs (42-2) won their 23rd straight match with a 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16 win over defending champion Cathedral Catholic-San Diego.
It will be a battle of Monarchs — both teams' nicknames — but Mitty has much more history with 14 state titles (against five losses). Mater Dei is 1-3 in state championship matches, the lone title coming in 2018. Mitty's last title was 2017 when it swept of all teams, Mater Dei, in the Open finals.
Izzy Romero (20), shown here in a Sept. 27 match against Saint Francis, had 11 kills on Tuesday night.
File photo: Jim Malone
Mitty, the top NorCal seed, triumphed behind 17 kills each from Katelyn Cook and Makenna Crosson, with Izzy Romero adding 11 kills. The second-seeded Lancers (35-6) were paced by Duke-bound Taylor Williams with 19 kills.
It was the sixth meeting between the two arch-rivals with winning for the fourth time. It was a measure of payback after the Lancers defeated Mitty in last year's NorCal title match, before losing in the state finals to Cathedral Catholic. Saint Francis also defeated visiting Mitty in four games on Sept. 27 in WCAL play (see video above).
“Our girls believed in what we worked on in practice,” Mitty coach Jon Wallace said. “Nobody played poorly. Our floor was very high tonight.”
In the first set, Cook and Crosson were on fire and libero Nicole Macalintal led a fierce defensive effort. Mitty jumped ahead by scores of 7-2 and 16-6 and won easily.
The crucial second set was tight throughout. At 19-19, Romero led a closing charge with a kill off the block, a tip and a rejection of an overpass on serve receive. The Lancers tightened the back row and ran their offense much more effectively in the third set. Williams bashed seven kills as St. Francis rolled.
Mitty players L-R Savannah Baron (10), Amiya Kuchibhotla (5), Madison Courtney (13), Kacie Caolli (12), Annabella Rando (4) and Katelyn Sentous (17).
File photo: Jim Malone
The final set was closely contested but the Monarchs pulled away behind Crosson, Cook and middle Amiya Kuchibhotla.
“It was a really cool atmosphere,” Cook said, referring to the packed gym with strong representation from both sides. “The fans were amazing. Tonight, we passed really well. We had good swings both in and out of system.”
Saint Francis coach Lake Merchen said “serving and passing was where we struggled. That kept us from running what we wanted to run. But I’m incredibly proud of how we fought.”
Saint Francis and Francis Parker-San Diego rank second behind Mitty with nine state titles. The Lancers lost 25-21, 25-16, 25-23 to unbeaten Cathedral Catholic last season in the state finals. The Dons were crowned the national champions.
Match like the Sept. 27 match, the action was largely even on Tuesday, especially in the middle two games.
File photo: Jim Malone
Southern California: Mater Dei defeats Cathedral Catholic, 3-1 — According to the Orange Country Register, Cymarah Gordon had 17 kills, Isabel Clark 13 and Layi Ostovar to lead the way for Mater Dei, which didn't take its first lead in the fourth set until a kill by Gordon to go up 15-14. From there, the Monarchs would score 10 of the next 12 points to win going away. As was the case in a Southern Section title sweep over Mira Costa, blocking was a key for Mater Dei, especially from 6-4 freshman Emma Kingston. Third seed Cathedral Catholic, which went on the road to beat second seed Mira Costa in four games on Saturday, finished 34-5.
Isabel Clark (27), shown here accepting congratulations for winning the Southern Section championship on Nov. 4, had another big match on Tuesday, helping the Monarchs to the Southern California Open title.
File photo: Heston Quan
Saturday's state championship (All at Santiago Canyon College): Mitty (33-4) vs. Mater Dei (42-2), 6:30 p.m.
Check back for scores/highlights of Division 1-5 regional finals
DIVISION 1
Northern California: Valley Christian d. Rocklin, 3-0 — The Warriors (25-10), which finished fifth in WCAL action and was seeded sixth in regional play, completed its remarkable run with a resounding 25-16, 25-17, 25-23 road victory. Rocklin, the fourth seed, finished 26-11.
Southern California: Palos Verdes d. La Canada, 3-0 — According to the Daily Breeze, middle blocker Daniela Rusich had 15 kills and Kendal Beshear added 14, and Mallory Labreche, fighting off back pains, contributed 24 assists as the Sea Kings prevailed 25-21, 25-23, 25-21. It was the second straight title for Palos Verdes, the fourth seed. Haley Clark and Ashby Zubchevich combined for 32 kills for La Canada (30-13).
Friday's state championship: Valley Christian (25-10) vs. Palos Verdes (25-21), 6:30 p.m.
DIVISION 2
Northern California: Sacred Heart Cathedral d. Clovis North, 3-1 — The Irish, which finished fourth in the WCAL and came in seeded third, prevailed 25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-18 to claim their sixth Northern California title and first under coach Symone Mackiewicz. SHC will try for its second state title, after winning D3 in 2014. Clovis North, the fifth seed, finished 31-10.
Southern California: Campbell Hall d. South Torrance, 3-0 — According to the Daily Breeze, the eighth-seeded Vikings raced to a 17-7 lead in the first set and never were really threatened during a 25-13, 25-16, 25-19 win. Mila Mijailovic had 15 kills and Sierra Starkman added 13 kills. "Everyone played their best," Mijailovic told Ryan Menzie. South Torrance, the 10th seed, finished 26-16.
Saturday's state championship: Sacred Heart Cathedral (26-14) vs. Campbell Hall (35-5), 4 p.m.
DIVISION 3
Northern California: Ripon Christian d. Archie Williams, 3-0: According to the Marin Independent Journal, the 13th-seeded Knights went on the road and breezed past defending D3 state champion Archie Williams, 25-15, 25-16, 25-19. Ripon Christian, the defending state D4 champions, have won 10 straight matches and not lost a game since Oct. 14. Archie Williams finished 18-11.
Southern California: Redwood-Visalia d. Del Norte, 3-1: The Central Section champions and second seed fought from behind to beat the San Diego Section champions 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-18 for the Rangers first regional title. Del Norte finished 24-15.
Saturday's state championship: Ripon Christian (36-5) vs. Redwood-Visalia (36-6), 1:30 p.m.
DIVISION 4
Northern California: Marin Academy d. Kingsburg, 3-0: According to the Marin Independent Journal, the second-seeded Wildcats won their first regional title behind strong hitting and blocking from freshman middle blocker Muriel Harris and all-around play from Kate Lane. The Wildcats overcame a pair of match points in the first round of sectionals so to reach the state finals is remarkable. Kingsburg, the fifth seed from the Central Section (430 miles roundtrip), finished 24-14.
Southern California: Glendale d. Chatsworth, 3-1: The host and top-seeded Nitros won their first regional title with a 25-21, 17-25, 25-21, 25-21 win over Chatsworth (30-19). It was the 30th straight win for Glendale, which last lost in three games to Crescenta Valley on Sept. 19.
Saturday's state championship: Marin Academy (23-16) vs. Glendale (39-6), 11 a.m.
DIVISION 5
Northern California: Crystal Springs Uplands d. Bradshaw Christian, 3-0: The fourth-seeded Gryphons went on the road to win 25-18, 26-24, 25-20 and knocked off the second-seeded Pride, which finished 26-13. It was the sixth straight win for CSU, which lost back-to-back matches on Oct. 20 and 24. The Gryphons won their first regional title.
Southern California: Oceanside d. Orangewood Academy, 3-0: After a blowout first win, the Pirates had to fight hard to pull out a 25-15, 27-25, 25-22 home sweep over the Spartans, who finished 23-12. It was the first regional title for Oceanside.
Friday's state championship: Crystal Springs Uplands (26-4) vs. Oceanside (24-11), 4 p.m.
