Sierra Canyon volleyball swept by Mater Dei in CIF-SS Division 1 championship game

Sierra Canyon struggles to deal with Mater Dei's athleticism in the CIF-SS final, but will try to regroup and find new motivation in the CIF State playoffs.

Sun, Nov 10 2024 06:42 AM
source: www.dailynews.com

Sierra Canyon volleyball swept by Mater Dei in CIF-SS Division 1 championship game + ' Main Photo'

Lucky Fasavalu #19 of Sierra Canyon sets up a shot against Mater Dei in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Addison Coady #20 of Mater Dei hits against Sierra Canyon in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Mater Dei celebrates after defeating Sierra Canyon in 3 straight to win the CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Lucky Fasavalu #19 of Sierra Canyon can’t get to a shot by Mater Dei in the second set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Deavan Antoine-dillon #10 of Sierra Canyon spikes against Preslie Saunders #13 of Mater Dei in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Westley Matavao #8 of Mater Dei celebrates with teammate Layli Ostovar #21 of Mater Dei after defeating Sierra Canyon in 3 straight to win the CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Lauren Lynch #2 of Sierra Canyon reaches for a shot against Mater Dei in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Sierra Canyon fans react against Mater Dei in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Westley Matavao #8 of Mater Dei does the haka with friends and family after defeating Sierra Canyon in 3 straight to win the CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Kayla Ostovar #19 of Mater Dei sets up a shot against Sierra Canyon in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Head coach Dan ODell of Mater Dei reacts against Sierra Canyon in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Emma Kingston #30 of Mater Dei spikes against Sierra Canyon in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Layli Ostovar #21 of Mater Dei returns a shot against Sierra Canyon in the second set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Emma Kingston #30 of Mater Dei returns a shot against Sierra Canyon in the second set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Westley Matavao #8 of Mater Dei returns a shot against Sierra Canyon in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Layli Ostovar #21 of Mater Dei spikes against Sierra Canyon in the second set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

Kayla Ostovar #19 of Mater Dei dives for the shot against Sierra Canyon in the first set of a CIF-SS Division I girls championship volleyball match at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)

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NORWALK — The Sierra Canyon girls volleyball team has renewed motivation as it heads into the CIF State playoffs.

The young Trailblazers team came together to reach the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship game but was swept by Mater Dei, the No. 2 team in the state according to MaxPreps, by scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-20 to win its second straight Division 1 title.

“We beat ourselves in so many ways tonight,” Sierra Canyon coach Stefanie Wigfall said. “This one is going to sting and I think it’s better to just move past it and get back on the court.”

Sierra Canyon (32-5) received an automatic bid to the CIF State playoffs and will learn its first-round opponent when brackets are released Sunday afternoon.

The Monarchs (35-4) used their athleticism to get through blocks for kills deep into Trailblazers territory. Westley Matavao finished with a match-high 12 kills and added seven digs.

In addition to their physical skill, Mater Dei game-planned to keep the ball away from Sierra Canyon libero and University of San Diego commit Lauren Lynch. It was the second time the teams met this season, having played each other in a tournament in mid-September.

“When you give (coach) Dan (O’Dell) a week to prepare for a match, you already know what it’s going to be. And so if you combine that with having an off night,” Wigfall said, “which I feel like we did, we beat ourselves in so many ways tonight.”

Eva Jeffries recorded seven kills and tacked on seven digs to lead the Trailblazers and Lynch executed 12 digs. Hanna McGinest had five kills and Lucky Fasavalu had nine assists.

“It might not have been the outcome we wanted,” Fasavalu said, “but so many teams wish they were in our position and we worked so hard and we fought hard. I’m proud of the way we carried ourselves.”

McGinest fired off three kills to help Sierra Canyon get out to a 3-2 lead in the first set, but Mater Dei was able to pull ahead with smart serving that included two aces from Kayla Ostovar. Kalyani Olive and Brandi Boston teamed up for two big blocks in the middle of the second set, but the Monarchs adapted and powered through the Trailblazers defense.

Sierra Canyon went on a five-point scoring run at the end of the third set after Wigfall called a timeout, but the Monarchs’ athleticism and resolve prevailed.

The Trailblazers swept Temecula Valley and Marymount then lost to Mira Costa in five sets during Division 1 pool play to advance to the championship game on a tiebreaker.

Now, the Trailblazers have the state tournament to look forward to.

“I do this because I love to teach resiliency,” Wigfall said. “You don’t get those opportunities to be resilient without sometimes getting your butt kicked like this. It’s how we respond, how we show up on Monday and teach those life lessons. One night does not define you.”

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