Two weeks ago, Redondo was on the outside looking in when the CIF girls volleyball polls were released. Now the Sea Hawks sit atop the CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA poll thanks to a 10-match winning streak that began with a win in the third-place game at the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.
Redondo validated its No. 1 ranking by winning the Dave Mohs Memorial Tournament in Orange County Monday by defeating third-ranked Mater Dei for the second time in five days. The Sea Hawks beat three top-ten team in Division 1-AA during the tournament.
In a rematch of last Thursday’s match where the Sea Hawks beat the Monarchs in four sets, Redondo took down Mater Dei 25-15, 26-24 in a match played at Edison High School.
Trailing 24-21, Redondo staved off three set points to tie the score before a Skylar Dykstra kill and a net violation gave the Sea Hawks the title.
Redondo (17-3) was led by Dykstra, who had 11 kills, 17 digs and three blocks, and setter Norene Iosia who recorded 20 assists. Brianna Lanktree posted eight kills, libero Katie Rotondo added nine digs and Leilani Martinez contributed eight digs and three aces.
Coach Tommy Chaffin’s Redondo squad began it championship run on Friday with a 25-18, 25-10 win over Chapparal and a 25-15, 25-23 victory over Marina.
During Saturday’s competition, the Sea Hawks defeated Mission Viejo 25-20, 25-21, Sage Hill (No. 1, Div. 3-A) 25-21, 25-17 in the Round of 16, defeated Newport Harbor (No. 7, Div. 1-AA) 25-21, 25-21 in the quarterfinals, and beat Tesoro (No. 9, Div. 1-AA) 25-20, 25-14 in the semifinals.
Dykstra had 36 kills, 48 digs and 10 aces on the day while Hannah Mosebar recorded 31 kills and 13 blocks; Lanktree had 28 kills, nine blocks and seven aces; Abril Bustamante added 22 kills and five blocks; Marissa Mitter had 19 kills; Rotondo added 38 digs and Iosia posted 70 assists, 25 digs and eight aces.
In a final tune-up before it enters Bay League competition, Redondo will host Marymount (No. 5, Div. 1-AA) Monday at 5:15 p.m. The Sea Hawks begin their run for a league title Tuesday with a 4:30 p.m. match at Peninsula.
One would be hard pressed to remember the last time a Mira Costa girls volleyball team was not ranked in the top ten, but the Mustangs fell onto the bubble this week after holding the No. 10 spot.
Mira Costa opened Bay League play Wednesday at Palos Verdes and will host Laguna Beach, the top ranked team in Division 1-A, in a non-league match Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
Redondo hosts rival Mira Costa Thursday, Oct. 11 in a critical Bay League showdown.
