Firing on all cylinders, Redondo’s drive to the State girls volleyball championship match was accomplished Tuesday night when the host Sea Hawks rolled over Trabuco Hills to claim the CIF Southern California Division 1 Regional title.
In a total team effort, fourth-seeded Redondo (36-4) swept sixth-seeded Trabuco Hills, the CIF-Southern Section Division 1A champions, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16 and will defend its CIF State title against Northern California champion Menlo-Atherton (27-7) Saturday at 8 p.m. at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.
With hard-swinging Megan Rice nursing a fever – she still led the team with 15 kills – her teammates stepped up while setter Norene Iosia turned in another stellar performance spreading the ball around the court.
Middle blocker Kacey Baker had nine kills and six blocks, Maddie Relaz added six kills and Kyla Doig and Sophia Loiola recorded three kills apiece.
“To get a sweep in the finals is surprising but we really wanted it,” Rice said. “Our girls stepped up.”
The beginning of the first set appeared to have the makings of another classic match similar to last year when Redondo took down Mater Dei in five sets. But with the score tied 10-10, Redondo scored 10 unanswered points to pull away.
The momentum carried over into the second set when the Sea Hawks never trailed after taking a 7-6 lead. Trabuco Hills, who was led by Allison Kantor’s 17 kills, led only once at 10-9 in the third set..
Redondo reached the Southern California finals after upsetting top-seeded Torrey Pines on the road last Saturday.
Redondo coach Tommy Chaffins said he doesn’t know how ready his team is until about ten minutes before game time when he looks into the players’ eyes.
“There was the same sign on Saturday and [tonight] we had great eyes,” Chaffins said. “I saw some focused determination,” Chaffins said. “Like, ‘You know what? We are going to the finals.’ As a coach, that gives you some confidence.”
Chaffins is proud of how his team has pulled together after losing the CIF-SS Division 1AA championship match to Mater Dei and a sub-par performance in the Sea Hawk’s win over Clovis East in the first round of the State tournament.
“It was a great defensive effort and great team effort,” Chaffins said. “Often we’ve had to rely on Megan to carry a heavy burden. I thought Norene made some wonderful decisions getting the ball to whoever was hot.. She was simply Norene. You get one of those special players every 10 to 15 years and you just have to cherish it.”
