Redondo places 12th in girls volleyball tourney; Mira Costa wins Bronze Division
Senior Marissa Mitter led Redondo with 59 kills during Saturday’s competition in the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas. Fie photo
Despite being shorthanded, Redondo Union’s girls volleyball team finished 12th overall in the 64-team Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas last weekend finishing fourth in the Silver Division.
With kill leader Briana Lanktree missing the tournament while she took the ACT test for admission to Virginia Tech and Abril Bustamante nursing an abdominal strain, Coach Tommy Chaffins’ Sea Hawks could ill afford to lose other players.
But when Petra Grutzik hurt her back and Hayes Hosea (knee) and Leilani Martinez (hip) suffered injuries, it was all Redondo could do to remain competitive.
Redondo won its pool by defeating Desert Hill (Saint George, UT) 25-12, 25-18, Newport Harbor 23-25, 25-12, 25-15 and Liberty (Bakersfield) 25-15, 25-15 on Friday.
The Sea Hawks fell to Los Alamitos 25-20, 19-25, 25-14 in the Championship Qualifying Round Saturday morning relegating the team to the Silver Bracket.
Redondo defeated Sacred Heart (Louisville, KY), 25-22, 14-25, 26-24 before losing to Dana Hills 24-26, 25-23, 27-25 in the quarterfinals. The Sea Hawks dropped the 3rd-place match to Francis Parker (San Diego) 25-21, 25-20.
Marissa Mitter led Redondo with 59 kills Saturday, Megan Rice posted 39 kills and Kristen Hamlin added 23 kills. Setter Norene Iosia recorded 12 kills and nine aces.
“I was happy with our performance,” Chaffins said. “We went with a lineup we hadn’t practiced due to some injuries, then had more injuries and had to change again. The girls responded to the adversity by cheering and encouraging one another. I say we have a deep team, and we got to prove it the past weekend.”
Torrey Pines successfully defended its tournament crown defeating Kamehameha (Honolulu, HI) 26-24, 23-25, 26-24 in the championship match. Assumption (Louisville, KY) won the Silver Division title.
Redondo continues its demanding non-league schedule while preparing for a run at the Bay League title. The Sea Hawks swept host Marymount (No. 6, Div. 1-AA) 25-15, 25-20, 26-24 on Tuesday avenging losses to the Sailors in last season’s CIF and Regional championship matches.
“Katie Barkley stepped in as libero and played terrific, along with Norene (Iosia), Megan Rice, Briana Lanktree and Kristen Hamlin,” Chaffins stated.
Erin Sagisi and the Mira Costa Mustangs host second-ranked Los Alamitos Friday. Photo
Rice had eight kills, Hamlin added seven kills and Mitter recorded six kills, three aces and two blocks.
Redondo hosts Harvard-Westlake today at 5 p.m. and will play at South Torrance (No. 5 in Division 2-AA) Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Sea Hawks open Bay League action Tuesday, Oct. 8 hosting Peninsula at 4:45 p.m.
Mustangs prepare for league opener
Mira Costa also had a strong showing in Las Vegas capturing the Bronze Division title while finishing 17th overall. The Mustangs are on the bubble of breaking into the CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA top ten.
The Mustangs went 2-1 in pool play rebounding from a 27-25, 25-10 loss to Horizon (Scottsdale, AZ) to beat Riverside 25-10 and Flagstaff (AZ) 25-20, 25-20. In the Bronze Qualifying Round, the Mustangs defeated South Torrance 25-18, 25-20.
Mira Costa opened Bronze bracket play with a 25-21, 25-13 win over Liberty and defeated Branson (Ross, CA) 25-17, 24-26, 25-16 before knocking off La Costa Canyon (Carlsbad) 25-11, 23-25, 25-19.
Coach Lisa Zimmerman’s Mira Costa squad had its own bout with injuries including Jerephina Leilua who suffered a back injury.
The Mustangs host Los Alamitos (No. 2 in Division 1-AA) Friday at 5:30 p.m. and will travel to take on Laguna Beach (No. 6, Div. 1-A) Tuesday in a match scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
Mira Costa begins its quest for a Bay League crown on Wednesday, Oct. 2 when the Mustangs host a talented Palos Verdes team at 5:15 p.m. The Sea Kings are ranked No. 8 in Division 1-AA.