Late five set matches on Tuesday shifted the rankings this week. Redondo Union stays on top, while Mater Dei, Los Alamitos and Newport Harbor move up a notch after winning some tough matches. Capistrano Valley makes their debut this week after a win over Tesoro at the Cougar Classic this past weekend. Santa Margarita moves up two for giving the Monarchs a run for their money while Corona del Mar and Marymount drop a spot for a sub par win by the Sea Kings and a loss for the Sailors. Tesoro is out with losses to Capistrano Valley and Dana Hills. In the year of anything can happen, stay tuned for more movement next week.
1. (1) Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) 17-3
The “steady as she goes” Sea Hawks beat Marymount this week in four sets, 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22 continuing on their 11-game winning streak. Senior outside hitter Skylar Dykstra had 13 kills and 23 digs. Juniors outside hitter Marissa Mitter and opposite Brianna Lanktree both chipped in with 12 and 11 kills apiece. The Sea Hawks will face Palos Verdes this week and should continue to roll through the Bay League.
2. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 17-5
The Monarchs grinded out another tough match against Santa Margarita Tuesday night but prevailed in five, winning 22-25, 26-28, 25-20, 25-23, 16-14. The Monarchs will face the Eagles again for a rematch in two weeks. Junior outside hitter Frankie Shebby had 27 kills, senior setter/right side Sara Hughes had 18 kills and junior right side Jaden Pickell had 17 kills. Mater Dei has proven they are the team you don’t want to go to five sets with in the last few weeks because of their deep bench and will to win.
3. (2) Corona del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.) 10-4
The Sea Kings defeated Newport Harbor in the Battle of the Bay last Saturday in four sets, 13-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23. A huge momentum shift resulted in the Sea Kings favor after senior outside hitter Tristen Thompson suffered a knee injury at set point in the second set and had to leave the match on a stretcher. Sophomore Hayley Hodson had an impressive 27 kills. The Sea Kings will face Irvine this week and will travel to San Diego to the California Challenge at Torrey Pines to test themselves against California’s best.
4. (5) Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) 20-3
The Griffins took care of Edison Tuesday night in a five-set match, 27-29, 22-25, 25-17, 25-8, 15-4. Junior middle blocker Crissy Jones led the team with 20 kills against the Chargers. The Griffins started their comeback at the end of game two with a little help from the crowd. Outside hitter Mattie May contributed as well with 10 kills. Los Al will face another big challenge next week facing Newport Harbor who nearly knocked off Corona del Mar.
5. (4) Marymount (Los Angeles, Calif.) 8-4
The Sailors faced a tough four-set match against Redondo Union on Monday night where they lost 25-17, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22. Marymount was led by senior outside hitter Cathleen Harris and sophomore outside hitter Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani with 10 kills each. The Sailors should finish out their Sunshine League play unscathed.
6. (7) Newport Harbor (Newport Beach, Calif.) 11-5
The Sailors suffered a tough loss to Corona del Mar in four sets on Monday, 13-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-23. Senior outside hitter Tristen Thompson was on a roll until she injured her left knee and had to be carried out on a stretcher. The Sailors had won the first set and had set point in the second when Thompson who already had 11 kills, went down. Newport will face a challenge replacing Thompson as they face Los Al and Edison next week.
7. (6) Vista Murietta (Murrieta, Calif.) 16-3
The Lady Broncos continued their winning streak this week with a win over Temecula Valley 25-21, 25-11, 25-23. Senior middle blocker Alyse Whitaker had 18 kills and setter Morgan Nunley had 45 assists. Vista Murietta should continue to dominate the Southwestern League.
8. (10) Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, calif.) 12-3
The Eagles suffered a tough loss Tuesday night to Mater Dei. They were up two sets before the tables turned and the Monarchs took the momentum. Senior outside hitter Sofia Lavin had 26 kills and senior middle blocker Brittany Ptak had 21 kills. Santa Margarita will face Orange Lutheran this week and will travel south to the California Challenge next weekend to test themselves against some of California’s best.
9. (9) Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.) 12-4
The Lancers beat Rosary Tuesday night, 3-1. They will face tough competition on Thursday against Santa Margarita. The bottom of the top 10 is very easy to slip out of and the Lancers will have to beat every team not in the top 8 to stay in.
10. (NR) Capistrano Valley (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) 16-6
The Cougars jump into the rankings this week with a big win over Tesoro, 25-22, 23-25, 15-4 in the Cougar Classic final at Capistrano Valley High School this past weekend. Senior outside hitter Dani Bolden had a great tournament and was named MVP.
Cusp
Lakewood (Lakewood, Calif.) 14-4
The Lancers are close to moving into the rankings with a win over Harvard Westlake, 3-1 who beat Redondo Union, Mater Dei and Edison in the beginning of the season. Lakewood will face Santa Margarita and Los Al next week. If they have a good showing they might make the cut.
Out this week
Tesoro (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) 13-3
The Lancers have had a rough run with losses to Capistrano Valley on Saturday at the Cougar Classic and a loss to Dana Hills Tuesday night in a close five gamer. Tesoro will have to win all their South league matches to get back into top 10.
