When Abril Bustamante’s kill set off a celebration of Redondo players and fans, it not only put the punctuation mark on the three-year varsity starter’s indoor career, but a 27-match winning streak that brought a CIF State Championship to the Sea Hawk’s girls volleyball program.
Strong serving and powerful swings helped propel Redondo to a 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 victory over Northern California Regional Champion Pitman of Turlock in the CIF State Division I Championship at Santiago Canyon College.
“This feels amazing,” Bustamante said of winning the State title. “There are no words to describe it. It’s surreal. It’s what I really wanted since my freshman year and a dream come true. Coming into the match, I was really confident in our girls and our ability and what we’ve accomplished so far.”
Bustamante joined Yaasmeen Bedart-Ghani, Kirsten Hamlin and Hayes Honea in providing senior leadership for the Sea Hawks who became the first girl’s team in the school’s history to win a state championship.
Assistant Coach Tiffany Rodriguez motivated the Sea Hawks by giving each girl on the team a ribbon at practices during the postseason. Each ribbon signified the potentially last practice. The team reached its goal by acquiring the maximum number of ribbons.
Redondo (39-2) was tested in the first set. Pitman (44-2) held a 20-16 lead before consecutive aces by Honea put Redondo up 22-20 and the Sea Hawks held off the Pride for the win.
“We worked really hard for this title,” said Honea “It’s really nice to go all the way and celebrate with Abril, Yazzie and Kristen.”
Honea finished with three aces and was part of a group of Sea Hawk servers who kept Pitman off balance throughout the match. Redondo served nine aces in the match including five by junior setter Norene Iosia who also recorded 40 assists.
Hamlin continued her strong play in the middle, recording 15 kills and five blocks. Seven of her kills came in the second set in which Redondo never trailed.
“I can’t describe how this feels,” Hamlin said. “I’m lucky to play with such a great group of girls.”
Redondo held a 19-14 lead in the third set before Pitman rallied to close the gap 22-21 but kills by Megan Rice, Hamlin and Bustamante sealed the victory. Rice finished with nine kills and Bustamante added six kills.
Bustamante hopes to win another title with Redondo before her high school career is over. In the spring, she will lead the Sea Hawks in the Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League. Bustamante, who has committed to USC where she will play sand volleyball, said the realization that she has competed in her last indoor match had not set in yet.
“As much as I’ve enjoyed playing the indoor game, I’m very, very excited to get back on the beach,” Bustamante said.
Bedart-Ghani, who will be participating in the Under Armour All-American Volleyball Match & Skills Competition on Friday, Dec. 19, scored a match-high 16 kills to complete a prep career that included three CIF championships and two state titles. Prior to transferring to Redondo, she won two CIF crowns and one state championship with Marymount.
“I wasn’t surprised at the sweep,” Bedart-Ghani said. “We knew coming in we just had to handle our business and we felt confident. We scouted them and they gave us great competition and have really good players but we stopped them.”
“Yaz plays the best on the biggest stage and that’s what champions do,” Redondo head coach Tommy Chaffins said. “She’s been phenomenal throughout the playoffs. She’s going to go down as one of high school’s all-time greats. It’s an extra feather in her cap to lead two different schools to the Division 1 State title. I’m not aware of anyone that has ever accomplished that before.”
The CIF State Championship match seemed anticlimactic after Redondo won a five-set thriller against visiting Mater Dei to win the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional title.
“We played one of the most dramatic matches in school history four days ago, so I knew there was a possibility of a bit of a letdown,” Chaffins said. “But we did feel like we kind of stole set one. I thought they Pitman) played rally great.”
Chaffins said he had a special group of girls on his team and was very happy for the seniors.
“When I get transcendent talents, and I had them on this team, there’s a part of me that hopes I don’t screw them up,” Chaffins said. “During our last timeout I just said ‘I’m going to shut up and girls, just go do your thing.’”
Redondo reached the State finals by defeating Mater Dei for the third time this season, including the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA championship match.
Mater Dei pushed Redondo to the limit. The Sea Hawks staved off three match points in the fifth set for a 25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 19-25, 20-18 victory.
“Mater Dei really picked its game up and took it to a whole other level,” Chaffins said. “There were very few aces and great plays by great players at crucial times. Both teams saved multiple match points. This will go down as a historical match for decades to come.
“I have a group of highly competitive kids. They embrace a great opponent playing well. It is the ultimate high if we can be an opponent at such a high level and they did it.”
Redondo has not lost on its home court since Mater Dei defeated the Sea Hawks 3-2 in the 2013 season opener.
“That was intense,” Rice said. “I’ve never been in a match where the fifth game as gone that far. That was the most we’ve been tested this year. It really pushed us. All season long we have lived by the motto – Next play focus.”
