You’ve found The Notebook. This isn’t just any Notebook, however; it’s a game day Notebook! Before the day is done, state champions will be crowned in Divisions V and I. Four more champions – Open and Divisions II through IV – will dogpile tomorrow. Fingers crossed that the matches are played at a high level and with tons of drama. I can’t wait to see what happens at Santiago Canyon College in Orange!
In case you’re counting, approximately 1,200 teams began practicing in August. Only 12 teams remain to play for one of six state titles. Add the NorCal Regional Division VI victors and only seven Golden State teams will be named champion.
Bulldogs rule Division VI again
Fall River, of the Northern Section, captured its third consecutive NorCal Regional title in Division VI on Tuesday. The Bulldogs (22-6) swept Maxwell (27-5) for the second time this season. The first came in the Northern Section Division 6 championship match 10 days earlier.
“Our championship match versus Maxwell on Tuesday night showed just how dominant our girls really are,” said first-year coach Jordan Williams. “We showed up in full force during this match. Serena Conway, Missie Bertelsen, Ellie Norris, Hailey Valdez, and Reese Cassity came ready to put the ball away on offense. Similarly, Peyton Estes, Olivia Peterson, and Mylah Darnell did not let anything hit the floor without a fight. Our team set a goal to make it to the championship game in August, so they were ready to get after it. The level they played at during the championship was what we expected from them all year. These Fall River girls are tough, talented, and worked their butts off for this well-deserved win.”
The state of the State
Division V – 4 p.m. Friday – Crystal Springs Uplands School v. Oceanside
Division I – 6:30 p.m. Friday – Valley Christian (San Jose) v. Palos Verdes
Division IV – 11 a.m. Saturday – Marin Academy v. Glendale
Division III – 1:30 p.m. Saturday – Ripon Christian v. Redwood (Visalia)
Division II – 4 p.m. Saturday – Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep v. Campbell Hall
Open – 6:30 p.m. Saturday – Archbishop Mitty v. Mater Dei
State Preview
Open
Archbishop Mitty (San Jose)
Current official record: 33-4
Current state rank: 5
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 14-4
Last year’s finish: Runner-up, Northern California Regional, Open Division
All-time state titles: 14 (first all-time)
Last state title: 2017 (Open)
Top players to watch: Maya Baker, 5-9 Jr. S; Katelyn Cook, 5-9 Sr. OH; Makennna Crosson, 6-3 Soph. OH
Mater Dei (Santa Ana)
Current official record: 42-2
Current state rank:1
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 16-2
Last year’s finish: Lost Regional Quarterfinals, Open Division
All-time state titles: 1
Last state title: 2018 (Open)
Top players to watch: Isabel Clark, 6-0 Sr. OH; Cymarah Gordon, 6-1 Sr. RS; Julia Kakkis, 6-0 Sr. S; Malyssa Cawa, 5-6 Sr. libero; Layli Ostovar, 5-10 Sr. OH
Did you know? Archbishop Mitty and national No. 1 Mater Dei are meeting for the first time this season, but they are not unfamiliar foes. The two teams have faced off three times before in state finals, with Mitty winning all three under legendary coach Bret Almazan-Cezar. The Monarchs make their first trip to a state championship match since Almazan-Cezar stepped down in 2020. The team is now coached by Jon Wallace, the longtime head coach at Santa Clara University. To get to the championship match, Mitty had to defeat Saint Francis of Mountain View, an Open finalist a year ago, for the fourth time in six meetings this year. The win on Tuesday, for the Northern California Regional title, denied Saint Francis senior libero Whitney Wallace, Coach Wallace’s daughter, a return trip to the finals.
Like Mitty, Mater Dei is also nicknamed the “Monarchs.” The team has been coached for the past 11 years by former UCLA assistant Dan O’Dell. Mater Dei got to the final by defeating defending CIF Open and 2022 national champion Cathedral Catholic on Tuesday in the Southern California Regional Final, the second time in three meetings this season that the Monarchs prevailed over the Dons. This will be Mater Dei’s fifth appearance in a state championship match. The Monarchs won in 2018, but lost the other three times, in 2017, 2004, and 2003, all to Mitty.
There have been six Open Division finals to date since the division was first instituted in 2016. Archbishop Mitty won the first two, but the Southern California representative has prevailed in the last four. No match has gone more than three sets.
Division I
Valley Christian (San Jose)
Current official record: 24-9
Current state rank: 25
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-8
Last year’s finish: Lost Semifinals, NorCal Regional, Division I
All-time state titles: 2
Last state title: 2015 (Division III)
Top players to watch: Hailey Newell, 5-8 Sr. S; Charley Staats, 5-8 Sr. OH; Bella Torkaman, 5-4 Sr. libero; Addison Carbonara, 5-8 Sr. OH
Palos Verdes (Palos Verdes Estates)
Current official record: 4-11
Current state rank:13
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 6-8
Last year’s finish: Lost State final, Division I
All-time state titles: 0
Last state title: never
Top players to watch: Kendall Beshear, 5-11 Sr. OH; Dani Rusich, 6-0 Sr. MB; Molly Labreche, 5-7 Jr. libero; Mallory Labreche, 5-11 Jr. S
Did you know?
Valley Christian is in the Div. I finals with a remarkable regional run, which included wins over North Coast Section powers San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista and Sac-Joaquin Section toughie Rocklin. The Warriors showed that they were battle-tested in the brutal West Catholic Athletic League, where they placed fifth out of seven teams. Three of the four teams ahead of them are state-ranked. Two, Archbishop Mitty in Open and Sacred Heart Cathedral in Div. II, are also appearing in state championship matches. When the Warriors last won state, they were led by setter Tori Dilfer, who later starred at Louisville; and Ronika Stone, who later starred at Oregon. Both are daughters of former NFL players. This year’s Warrior team is undersized but gritty. They do not make mistakes and are battle-tested.
Palos Verdes was the favorite to win Div. I last year, but fell in a five-set thriller to Branson. The Sea Kings underwent major changes in the off-season, as head coach Patrick Lynch stepped down and was replaced by longtime assistant Lacey Minzlaf. Palos Verdes also graduated two standouts, setter Tatum Lane and libero Meg Walsh, and saw Kaci DeMaria, a 6-4 junior outside hitter considered among the nation’s elite in her class, decide against playing this year. Despite all the changes, the Sea Kings, who had not had much history in volleyball before last season, made the Southern Section Div. 1 playoffs again this year and bested four strong foes in the regional playoffs, including state-ranked Redondo Union for a third time this season and state-ranked JSerra for a second time. Kendall Beshear was on the unheralded SCVC 17 Roxy team that won Junior Nationals at 17 Open in July. If Palos Verdes wins state, it would cap a remarkable double for Beshear, a Cal Poly SLO signee, that would surely have the team line dancing, which is a personal favorite.
Division II
Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco)
Current official record: 25-14
Current state rank: not ranked (No. 10 in Central Region)
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 2-9
Last year’s finish: Lost first round, NorCal Regional Div. I
All-time state titles: 1
Last state title: 2014 (Div. III)
Top players to watch: Sarah Caulder, 5-6 Sr. OH; Sarah Chow, 5-10 Sr. S; Angel Gumboc, 5-3 Sr. libero
Campbell Hall (Studio City)
Current official record: 35-5
Current state rank:14
2023 record versus current statewide top 25:1-2
Last year’s finish: Lost first round, Southern California Regional Div. II
All-time state titles: 0
Last state title: none
Top players to watch: Mila Mijailovic, 5-10 Sr. OH; Thea Morris, 5-10 Sr. S; Sierra Starkman, 5-6 Sr. OH; Bella Marrero, 5-7 Sr. libero
Did you know?
Sacred Heart Cathedral made five state championship match appearances under longtime head coach Margi Beima, winning over Saddleback Valley Christian in 2014. This is the Fighting Irish’s first final appearance under second-year head coach Symone Mackiewicz, who played under Beima in the mid-2000s. Sacred Heart Cathedral won the Central Coast Section Div. III title in 2022 in Mackiewicz’ first year, but lost in the Div. III finals this year to Burlingame. Both Beima and Mackiewicz reached the state championship match in their second years as coach. The Fighting Irish placed third in the highly competitive West Catholic Athletic League, behind NorCal Regional Open Division finalists Archbishop Mitty and Saint Francis of Mountain View and Sacred Heart Prep, and in front of state Div. I finalist Valley Christian of San Jose. For 11 years, the Fighting Irish have hosted a “Serve It Up” tournament. They bring three other schools in and come together to do a day of service projects, have dinner together and talk about the service projects, and then, the next day, play each other. “It is a great way to bring programs together in service and give back to our community and help organizations that also help our community,” Mackiewicz said.
Campbell Hall finished second in Div. 4 of the Southern Section last season and finished second to state-ranked Beckman in Div. 3 this year. The Vikings, who returned all of their starters from last year’s 20-win team, have lost just three matches to in-state teams under first-year head coach Kat Thyer. The team is small yet with an unrelenting attack, and it has the kind of ball control that frustrates opponents.
Division III
Redwood of Visalia celebrates going where no Ranger team has gone before. Photo courtesy of Ron Holeman
Ripon Christian (Ripon)
Current official record: 36-5
Current state rank: not ranked (No. 23 in North Region)
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-0
Last year’s finish: State Champion, Div. IV
All-time state titles: 2
Last state title: 2022 (Division IV)
Top players to watch: Jordan Vander Veen, 5-9 Sr. OH; Megan Weststeyn, 6-2 Sr. S; Leah Van Wyngarden, 5-7 Sr. OH; Sydney Hoffman, 5-10 Sr. MB
Redwood (Visalia)
Current official record: 34-6
Current state rank: not ranked (No. 24 in the Central Region)
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-1
Last year’s finish: Lost first round, Southern California Regional Div. II
All-time state titles: 0
Last state title: none
Top players to watch: Kennedy Cutler, 5-6 Sr. OH; Audrey Hyde, 5-10 Sr. RS/S; Ashlyn Guenter, 5-10 Sr. RS; Devyn Castaneda, 5-6 Sr. libero
Did you know?
Ripon Christian won the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 5 title in 2021 and 2022 and won the Div. 4 title this year. The Knights made the state final match by defeating 2022 state Div. III champion in the NorCal Regional final, a matchup of reigning state champions. Ripon Christian has won 18 Sac-Joaquin Section titles. Vander Veen is ranked 16th in the state in kills. Weststeyn is fifth in the state in assists. The Knights will bring a 10-match winning streak to the state final.
Redwood has won nearly 300 matches in the 12 years that Alana Montgomery has been head coach. The Rangers have won 34 times in 2023 despite graduating prolific attacker Morgan Castaneda, the state kills leader a year ago. The key has been offensive balance. Redwood has benefited from a more competitive schedule the past two seasons, even though it has meant being placed in Division I of the Central Section playoffs, where it has lost in the first round each time. The Rangers’ run to their first state championship final has included wins over Los Angeles Section power Venice and Temple City, which featured Stanford signee Taylor Yu, the state’s kills leader.
Division IV
Marin Academy (San Rafael)
Current official record: 23-16
Current state rank: not ranked
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-1
Last year’s finish: Lost Round I, Northern California Regional, Division IV
All-time state titles: 1
Last state title: 2004
Top players to watch: Kate Lane, 6-1 Sr. OH; Ellie Corsello, 5-11 Soph. MB/RS; Muriel Harris, 6-0 MB
Glendale
Current official record: 39-6
Current state rank: not ranked
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-0
Last year’s finish: Lost Round 3, Southern Section Division 7 playoffs
All-time state titles: 0
Last state title: none
Top players to watch: Aleina Manaois, 5-7 Jr. OH; Arianna Vargas, 5-6 Sr. libero; Emmi Whiting, 5-3 Jr. S
Did you know?
Marin Academy won state in its only appearance in 2004, defeating Santa Fe Christian in Division V. Coach Craig Wong took over three years later and the Wildcats have since won three North Coast Section championships, including Div. 4 in 2022; and have appeared in the NorCal Regionals 14 times.
Glendale started the season 0-3 but comes into the state championship match winners of 26 in a row, including a Southern Section Div. 6 championship, the first section title in program history. The Nitros, who were 24-12-1 a year ago, toppled three Los Angeles City Section foes and Mayfair of Lakewood to win their first Southern California Regional title.
Division V
Oceanside's "season of firsts" continues with a Div. V matchup with Crystal Springs Uplands School
Crystal Springs Uplands School (Hillsborough)
Current official record: 26-4
Current state rank: not ranked
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-0
Last year’s finish: Lost Central Coast Section Div. V quarterfinals
All-time state titles: 0
Last state title: none
Top players to watch: Bianca Sladewski, 5-4 Jr. libero; Ellie Lee, 5-7 Fr. OH; Ella Beebe, 5-11 Jr. MB
Oceanside
Current official record: 24-11
Current state rank: not ranked
2023 record versus current statewide top 25: 0-0
Last year’s finish: Lost Round 1, San Diego Section, Division 4
All-time state titles: 0
Last state title: none
Top three players to watch: Elena Gonzels-Hughes, 5-6 Sr. S; Mikayla Poumele-Flores, 5-8 Sr. OH; Faye Naotala, 5-9 Sr. RS
Did you know?
Crystal Springs Uplands School won a Div. V Central Coast Section title in volleyball for the first time since 2010. The Gryphons will be making their first appearance in a state championship match one year after graduating the league MVP and league MVP runner-up among five seniors. Crystal had never won a state title in any sport before last year when both boys and girls won cross-country in Div. V. The Gryphons were league co-champions this year with Castilleja, the team it defeated for the CCS title, and the team that knocked it out of the playoffs a year ago.
Oceanside was 9-17 a year ago. The turnaround started on the beach in the spring when the Pirates won a league title for the first time in the 116-year history of the school, and it continued this fall with an improvement of 16 matches in the win column. Oceanside finished 4-6 in league, good for fourth place, but is on a current eight-match winning streak, which includes its first San Diego Section title in Div. IV. Four wins, all by sweep, have followed in the Southern California Regional playoffs. Below head coach Nathan Fristed, a former college assistant coach, when he says that the Pirates are ‘Making an all-time run.”
How did the teams get to the state finals?
They won Tuesday Regional finals! Here are the details:
Open Division
Archbishop Mitty defeated Saint Francis of Mountain View for the third straight time, and fourth in six contests this season, behind 17 kills each from outsides Katelyn Cook and Makenna Crosson.
***
Mater Dei ousted reigning CIF State Open Division champion Cathedral Catholic in four sets, taking the season series between the two teams, 2-1, thanks to 17 kills and four blocks from RS Cymarah Gordon and a career performance from 6-4 freshman middle Emma Kingston, who delivered season-best performances in both kills (8) and blocks (9).
Division I
Valley Christian of San Jose went on the road and swept Rocklin behind strong play from pins Charley Staats, Addison Carbonara, and Whitney Fleming. Staats, Carbonara, and libero Bella Torkaman proved formidable in serve-receive, while setter Hailey Newell ran an efficient offense that generated few errors.
***
Dani Rusich and Kendall Beshear combined for 29 kills in Palos Verdes’ sweep of three close sets from La Canada.
Division II
Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep won a competitive four-set match over 2022 Div. I finalist Clovis North.
“Our regional finals match was as evenly matched as a finals round could ever be,” said Fighting Irish coach Symone Mackiewicz. “Both teams went point for point, or stayed within 2-3 points of each other, for the majority of every set. It was great to see my team fight throughout all four sets no matter the score.
Sarah Chow had 51 assists to lead the victors. Libero Angelynn Gumboc contributed 22 digs.
***
Campbell Hall started quickly versus South Torrance and never relented, winning behind 32 kills combined from Mila Mijailovic and Sierra Starkman. Thea Morris had a team-high 22 digs.
“As a whole, the team was competing at a high level, minimizing our total errors as a team,” said coach Kat Thyer.
Division III
Ripon Christian won the battle of defending state champions by sweeping Archie Williams on the road. Tough serving and solid blocking and defense were key to the win. The Knights finished with eight blocks, three each from Leah Van Wyngarden and Megan Weststeyn. Ripon Christian’s offense was led by Jordan Vander Veen, who had 14 kills. Van Wyngarden and Sydney Hoffman teamed for 17 more.
***
Redwood of Visalia won a high-energy match from Del Norte of San Diego. The Rangers dropped the first set but won the final three, demonstrating grit and determination in the process. Audrey Hyde had 18 kills, 20 assists, 24 digs, and four blocks to lead the way. Kennedy Cutler contributed 11 kills, 12 digs, two assists and two blocks.
Division IV
Marin Academy needed overtime in Game 3 to finish off a sweep of gritty Kingsburg. A late Wildcat surge closed out the first set. A Kingsburg surge helped the Vikings rally from down 16-9 in the third to tie things at 17-17. Marin then rallied and held four match points at 24-20 only to see Kingsburg score five straight to threaten to send the match to a fourth set. An ace by libero Kirsten Wang, who led the Wildcats with 24 digs; set the table for Marin Academy’s three-set win. Senior Kate Lane led a balanced offensive attack with 14 kills.
***
Glendale takes a 26-match winning streak into the state Div. IV championship match
Glendale won a hard-fought and exciting four-set match versus Chatsworth. Junior Aleina Manaois led the way for the Nitros with 22 kills, and 13 digs. Senior libero Arianna Vargas contributed 19 digs and junior setter Emmi Whiting pitched in with 34 assists.
Division V
Crystal Springs Uplands School went on the road to sweep Bradshaw Christian to extend its unbeaten streak to six. The Gryphons came from behind to win Game 2 in an overscore situation thanks to the serving of freshman Ellie Lee.
***
Oceanside overcame Orangewood Academy in three sets. The Pirates won Game 1 going away, but Orangewood, which had strong pin hitters and athletic middles, took leads late in the next two sets before accurate serving and timely attacks helped Oceanside prevail. Senior RS Feagaiga Naotala led the way with 15 kills, 13 digs, and three aces.
Path to Regional Finals
Since last Friday’s Notebook, Open Division teams and teams in Division I through V played one match each to reach their respective regional finals. Here are the results that caught my eye:
Open
Cathedral Catholic won an Open showdown with Mira Costa in four sets. Set scores were 25-22, 21-25, 26-24, 25-22 in the match played at Costa. Audrey Flanagan had 24 kills and Taylor Deckert 22 digs in the loss for the Mustangs, who swept the Dons previously in the semifinals of the Durango Fall Classic.
Div. I
Rocklin got a dominant effort from sophomore outside Addy Scheitlin (23 kills) in getting past a Folsom team that had won two previous regional matches in reverse sweeps.
San Luis Obispo played giant killer in the regionals until Saturday when La Canada came north and swept SLO behind a stupendous night from junior OH Ashby Zubchevich, who had 32 kills and 12 digs.
Palos Verdes down Redondo Union in five sets behind 30 kills and 13 digs from Kendall Beshear. The Bay League rivals played three times this year, with PV winning all three in five sets.
Div. II
Campbell Hall needed an epic rally versus El Capitan in the regional semifinals to make the state championship match in Div. II
El Capitan of Lakeside won the first two sets at deuce before Campbell Hall staged an epic rally led by outsides Mila Mijailovic and Sierra Starkman, who combined for 40 kills and 33 digs.
Div. III
Archie Williams got a huge spark when Amelia Richer returned to the court after a season-long absence due to a dislocated kneecap, and the combination of setter Reese Fraser and Lindsey Jones was just good enough to help the Peregrine Falcons prolong defense of their state title with a five-set win over Mercy of Burlingame.
Redwood of Visalia survived 40 kills from Temple City star Taylor Vu to win in five behind 18 kills, 28 assists, and 25 digs from Audrey Hyde.
Div. V
Crystal Springs Uplands School survived a furious rally from top-seeded Skyline, a representative of the Oakland Section; to deny the Titans their second finals appearance over the past three years.
Thanks! Be back next week with final news and notes on volleyball in the Golden State, including extensive coverage of the state championship matches…