The 2023 CIF Southern Section-Ford girls’ volleyball playoffs hit the semifinal round Saturday, Oct. 28, and four local teams found themselves looking to get to that one final match next week, with hopes of claiming a CIF Southern Section title.
DIVISION 5
Rancho Christian def. Culver City, 3-2
25-27, 22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 15-9
Rancho Christian (25-7) hosted Culver City in the Division 5 brackets, led by Savannah Thomas (5.5 kills per set) and Brighton Richards (5.7 digs per set on defense). After falling behind early in their first two sets, Rancho Christian ran a reverse sweep on the Centaurs helping them advance to a section final for the first time since 2018, when the program was the runner-up in Division Eight.
DIVISION 6
Glendale def. Linfield, 3-0
26-24, 25-23, 25-19
Linfield Christian, the No. 3 seed in the Division Six bracket traveled to No. 2 Glendale, and were looking to advance to the section finals for the fifth time in program history, but fell in three-straight sets. The Lions were led this year by Anna Roth (229 kills) and Brooklyn Pierce (179 digs).
DIVISION 8
Temecula Prep def. Liberty, 3-1
25-19, 25-12, 24-26, 25-13
With their win, Temecula Prep (26-5), the division’s top seeded team led by outside hitter Abby Pekrul, the Patriots will also advance to the CIF Southern Section finals in Division Eight for the first time in program history. Temecula Prep defeated their neighbors to the East, Liberty High School, 3-1.
The tournaments will conclude with the championships being played at Cerritos College as well as designated home team sites. Determination of sites will be determined after the semi-final round is completed Saturday, Oct. 28. CIF STATE REGIONALS: November 7 – 14, CIF STATE FINALS: November 17 – 18.
*All schedules/scores supplied by CIF-SS.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
