Redondo takes it to the limit in volleyball loss

Standing next to each other waiting for the awards presentation, Lara and Skylar Dykstra stared in each other’s eyes before embracing in a passionate hug. Cool and calm when the ball was in play, the sisters had earned the right to display their emotions.

Redondo’s dream season was over. The team came within one point of advancing to the CIF Division 1 State Championships, but the siblings also knew that the hard fought 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 22-25, 19-17 loss to Long Beach Poly marked the last time they would compete together as Sea Hawks.

Lara, a senior, will be playing for Nebraska next season while the sophomore Skylar will be looked upon as one of Coach Tommy Chaffins’ leaders.

“I love playing with my sister,” Skylar said. “We’re best friends so it brings really great chemistry to the court. Having her there has been really awesome. She’s taught me to always be positive, just focus on the next play and not have a bad attitude on the court.”

Tuesday’s CIF Southern California Regional final was the third meeting between Redondo and Long Beach Poly this season. The Jackrabbits beat the Sea Hawks 2-1 to capture the Redondo Classic and held off Chaffin’s scrappy team to win the CIF Division 1-AA title in four sets.

After Redondo swept Redlands East Valley — who had eliminated top-seeded La Costa Canyon in the opening round – last Saturday, the Sea Hawks were looking forward a rematch.

MaxPreps.com had Poly listed No. 1 in both its state and national rankings while Redondo held the fourth and eighth spots, respectively.

“We were really looking forward to the rematch because we knew their offense and defense so well after playing them twice,” freshman Brianna Lanktree said.

Chaffins said he didn’t care if his team faced Poly or Marymount (the other semifinalist) knowing it would be a challenge.

“This is Division 1. No knock on the other teams, but this is the premier division, this it where it’s at. Teams that have lost in the second round of our playoffs are ranked in the top 50 nationally.”

“A rematch would be really exciting and fun,” Lara Dykstra said after defeating Redlands East Valley. “We’ve been playing so fast and loose. We’re playing so well and executing all around. They (Redlands) fought hard but I think overall we were more of a team than theirs.”

Dykstra and her teammates got their wish but not the outcome they had hoped for.

In the first set, Redondo spread the ball around but fell short to the powerful Poly team. In game 2, the Sea Hawks took advantage of 10 Jackrabbit errors while committing only four of their own for the win.

Poly rebounded to win the third set and Redondo found itself in the same situation as the CIF championship match. But the never-say-die Sea Hawks refused to let up. The Dykstra sisters each had six kills and Redondo used a strong defensive game to go ahead 19-12 before holding on to win game four.

The overflow crowd in the Poly gym had been treated to a night of hard hits and great athleticism on defense which produced many long, nail-biting rallies. Game 5 would be no different.

Three blocks helped Redondo take a 9-7 lead in the game to 15 where the victor must win by two points. It was the last time either team would lead by more than a point — tying at every point from nine through seventeen — before Bria Russ ended the contest with a serve that fell right over the net.

Lara Dykstra had a game-high 27 kills along with 15 digs, Skylar Dykstra had 21 kills and 20 digs, Tiffany Morales recorded 20 digs and Blake O’Brien played a key role with 15 digs and 45 assists.

Also contributing were Nicole White (five kills, four blocks), Lanktree (five kills, three blocks) and Hannah Mosebar (four blocks).

“It was an epic battle,” Chaffins said. “I think it’s a match they’ll talk about for many, many years. We wish Poly the best. They’re a classy team with a great coach players and fans. We really want them to win it.”

Chaffins said his team was confident entering the match and knew his players left everything on the court.

“Our mantra all year has been ‘Let’s play focused.’ We try to pride ourselves in being fast and loose and we play hard at practice or if there’s 1,200 people in the stands watching the CIF State Regionals. We just don’t any other way.

Poly (38-2) moves on to face Northern California champion Palo Alto Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Events Center at San Jose State University. The Jackrabbits haven’t lost since a 2-1 defeat to Harvard-Westlake at the Durango Tournament on Sept. 25. Redondo was only the second team to win two games in a five-set match against Poly since the Jackrabbit’s 3-2 season-opening win against Newport Harbor.

Chaffins credited much of his team’s success to the veteran leadership provided by his four seniors – Lara Dykstra, Allison Field, O’Brien and White.

“The veterans play so up and make me play to their standards,” Lanktree said. “As a freshman, I try to look like them which makes my game better.”

Not only did Redondo (29-8) reach the state semifinals for the fourth time — their losses in 2005, ’06 and ’07 coming at the hands of Mira Costa – the Sea Hawks played in their fifth CIF championship match.

Another highlight of the season came in the regular season finale when Redondo swept Mira Costa at their rival’s home court to win a share of the Bay League title.

Nicole White, who had moved from Ukiah for her senior year, was all smiles after such a deep run in the post season.

“It (playing at Redondo) was a great experience,” White said. “All of our teammates are really close and we have really good chemistry on and off the court. I wish I could have played longer with them.” ER

To view a highlight clip from the match, click on the following: http://gazettes.com/sports/poly/article_31c5a716-fd2b-11df-9b48-001cc4c03286.html

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