Previews of Saturday’s CIF-SS girls volleyball championships on Saturday.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
FAN INFO
Tickets: General admission, $12; student (without ID), $12; student (with ID), $5; children (5-13 years), $5. Payment can be made with cash or credit card.
DIVISION 1AA
Mater Dei (24-7) vs. Redondo Union (33-3)
Where, when: Cerritos College, 8 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports West
Outlook: These teams are familiar with each other. They met three times last season and they met earlier this season. Mater Dei lost all four meetings. When they met this season, it was the second match of the year for the Monarchs. Since then, they have improved as players have settled into their roles. Shannon Scully and Rachel Ritchie lead the offense, and Siena Secrist and Makena Martin also chip in. Senior setter Angela Gonzalez and freshman Brielle Mullally also help run the offense. Top-seeded Redondo dropped a five-set match to Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach in the final match of the regular season. It has dropped just two sets in the playoffs.
DIVISION 1A
Trabuco Hills (30-4) vs. Valencia of Valencia (26-9)
Where, when: Cerritos College, 5 p.m.
Live coverage: FoxSportsWest.com Prep Zone
Outlook: Trabuco Hills, co-champs in the Sea View League, has dropped just two sets in the playoffs and reached the division final for the first time. That’s a credit to the team’s group of juniors and seniors. Senior Allie Kantor had 28 kills in a second-round playoff victory over Thousand Oaks, 18 against San Marcos and 18 in the semifinals against Santiago of Corona. Valencia upset defending champion Aliso Niguel in the quarterfinals.
DIVISION 3A
Saddleback Valley Christian (21-8) vs. Templeton (28-7)
Where, when: Rio Hondo College, 5 p.m.
Live coverage: nfhsnetwork.com
Outlook: Top-seeded Saddleback Valley Christian is back in a familiar spot, making its fourth consecutive finals appearance. Led by Coach Carmen Stratton, the Warriors will try to win their third consecutive CIF title. SVC lost in the Division 4AA final in 2012. The Warriors won the 4AA title in 2013 and the 3A title last year. Since Oct. 20, SVC has swept all but one opponent (Loma Linda Academy in the semifinals). The Warriors have won 10 consecutive matches. Lily Dyer led SVC with 19 kills and three blocks in the semifinals. Kaitlyn O’Brien and Shannon Geraty had 11 kills apiece. The Eagles haven’t lost a set since Oct. 20, a span of eight matches.
DIVISION 5A
Tarbut V’Torah (25-1) vs. St. Monica Academy of Pasadena (23-4)
Where, when: Rio Hondo College, 8 p.m.
Live coverage: nfhsnetwork.com
Outlook: It has been a memorable season for Tarbut V’Torah. Under first-year coach Lucas Black, TVT enters its first CIF final riding a streak of 19 consecutive wins. Last year’s team advanced to the quarterfinals. Black said the team doesn’t rely on any one player. He has eight girls in the rotation, including junior outside hitter Lauren Cohen, junior middle blocker Emily Neufeld and sophomore setter Meskie Taylor. TVT has one senior, Sydney Zeve, on its roster. St. Monica has lost one set in the playoffs.
Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com
