Redondo host girls volleyball tourney; prepares for CIF, State title runs
Jylen Whitten aims the ball between Mira Costa defenders. Photo
Entering the final week of the regular season while holding the No. 1 ranking in the CIF-Southern Section poll and No. 2 in the nation, many teams could become complacent. Not Redondo. Head coach Tommy Chaffins won’t allow it.
Redondo holds an impressive 21-2 season record after defeating Leuzinger 3-0 on Tuesday and will play at Palos Verdes Thursday and host Peninsula on Monday before wrapping up the regular season Wednesday with a 7 p.m. road match at rival Mira Costa. Redondo defeated visiting Mira Costa 3-1 on Sept. 25.
The Sea Hawk’s two losses this season were to Mater Dei (No. 4 in the nation) and undefeated Assumption of Kentucky (No. 1 in the nation).
On Saturday, the Sea Hawks swept host Harvard-Westlake 25-13, 25-15 25-17, the 16th-ranked team in CIF-SS. Harvard-Westlake is led by former Mira Costa head coach Hayley Blanchard.
Senior outside hitter Jasmine Davis has her eyes set on a State title to match the one she earned when the Sea Hawk’s girls basketball team captured the championship last season.
Her move from middle blocker to outside hitter after her sophomore season has paid dividends for Redondo.
“People told me I had the skills to play outside and I’m thankful to coach Chaffins for giving me the chance,” Davis said. “I’m a competitor and killing the ball, talking to the libero (Nalani Iosia) and serving makes me feel special.”
This weekend, Redondo and South Torrance host the 24-team Varsity Power Classic tournament.
Pool play takes place Friday beginning at 3:30 p.m. Competing at Redondo will be
Pool 1 (Archbishop Mitty, Thousand Oaks, Marlborough and Burroughs), Pool 2 (Redondo, Santa Monica (No. 4, Div. 3), St. Lucy’s and West), Pool 3 (Notre Dame, Palos Verdes, Long Beach Millikan and Valencia) and Pool 4 (Long Beach Poly (No. 13, Div. 1), Bishop Montgomery (No. 3, Div. 4), Newbury Park and Chadwick).
Competing at South will be Pool 5 (Scripps Ranch, Ventura, South, Los Osos) and Pool 6 (Los Alamitos, Hart (No. 2, Div. 3), Buena, Notre Dame Academy).
Gold Division playoffs begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday at Redondo. The Silver Division will be at South.
Mira Costa (18-8) is ranked No. 7 in Division 1 after defeating Palos Verdes 3-1 on Friday and Peninsula 3-0 on Tuesday. The Mustangs play Leuzinger twice before Redondo invades Fisher Gym for the Bay League finale.