In this final regular season notebook, there are plenty of league updates to go through along with the CIF-SS polls, Players of the Week to honor, and a look at the playoff calendar as the last week of regular season play gets underway.
Players of the Week:
- Miliani Villareal, Vista Murrieta
In a reverse sweep victory at Murrieta Valley on Thursday, Oct. 5 it was Villareal who anchored the Broncos defense with 25 digs while adding an impressive five aces from behind the service line.
- Suzy Kemle, Rancho Christian
Kemle, a sophomore middle blocker who has impressed since coming off the sit out period, recorded 14 kills with a pair of aces as the Eagles avenged a loss to Paloma Valley and pulled even in the Ivy League race.
League Updates
Ivy
On Friday night, in a rematch of the league’s top two programs, Rancho Christian earned a sweep of Paloma Valley by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-20 to pull even in the loss column. The Eagles will play twice this week and need two wins to secure a share of a second straight Raincross Conference title after winning the Sunbelt League last year. Savannah Thomas had 17 kills in the sweep while Suzy Kemle added 14 with two aces for the Eagles. They are at Elsinore on Monday and at Riverside Poly on Wednesday afternoon to close out the season. Meanwhile, Paloma Valley is at Elsinore on Wednesday in the final edition of the Wildcats/Tigers rivalry as league colleagues.
Mountain Pass
Liberty started the week needing two wins to set up a winner-take-all showdown for the league’s championship on Tuesday against Hemet West Valley and that’s exactly what the Bison got with sweeps of both San Jacinto and Tahquitz. In Tuesday’s 25-12, 25-21, 25-12 win over the Tigers it was Kaitlyn Toscano, with eight kills and four aces, leading the way for Liberty. Meanwhile, in a 3-0 sweep of Tahquitz on Thursday it was Kierstynn Vogt leading the way with eight kills and just one hitting error in a 25-12, 25-17, 25-17 victory.
Southwestern
Vista Murrieta was down 2-0 on Thursday, Oct. 5 at Murrieta Valley but came storming back for the reverse sweep and won 18-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-6 to maintain their share of first place. The Broncos will close out regular season action with matches at Murrieta Mesa on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and at home against Chaparral on Thursday, Oct.12. Murrieta Valley will host Temecula Valley on Thursday with the Golden Bears needing a win in that match plus one against last place Great Oak on Tuesday to maintain their position atop the league standings.
Sunbelt
Temescal Canyon fell in their first matchup against Valley View at home on Sept. 27 and is a match out of first place. Valley View is that first place team and the Titans get their last shot at them on Wednesday, Oct. 11 in Moreno Valley.
After a five-set win over Aquinas the Linfield Christian girls volleyball team, currently ranked second in Division Six, officially clinched a CIF-SS playoff spot for the fourth straight year after missing nine straight postseasons and then winning back-to-back titles. Since a coaching change at mid-year which saw assistant Kat Pierce take over for Dana Ortiz the Lions are now 9-2 with a 17-6 mark overall and 4-2 in Ambassador League play. They’ll finish the regular season with Arrowhead Christian at home on Tuesday, Oct. 10 and at Ontario Christian on Thursday, Oct. 12.
South Valley League
Temecula Prep has officially clinched the title.
CIF-SS Coaches Poll
This week’s biggest mover in the coaches poll released on Monday, Oct. 2 was Cornerstone Christian, who went from receiving votes in Division Nine, to eighth after a sweep of Calvary Baptist in Majestic League play.
CIF-SS Playoff Calendar
With the regular season concluding Thursday, Oct. 12, here is the calendar for postseason play…
- Pairings Announcement: Saturday, Oct. 14
- Wildcard Matches: Tuesday, Oct. 17
- First Round Matches: Thursday, Oct. 19
- Second Round Matches: Saturday, Oct. 21
- Quarterfinal Round Matches: Wednesday, Oct. 25
- Semifinals: Saturday, Oct. 28
- CIF-SS Finals: Friday, Nov. 3 or Saturday, Nov. 4 (at Cerritos College or campus sites)
All matches are scheduled for 6:00 P.M. unless both schools agree to a different time or date. If that happens, please email sports@reedermedia.com and socaltrekkie@gmail.com with updated information.
Derryl Trujillo can be reached by email at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.
