MURRIETA – The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls volleyball semifinals after a hard-fought five-set victory over Orange Lutheran on Wednesday night. The Nighthawks started strong, taking the first two sets 27-25 and 25-17, but the Lancers clawed their way back, winning the next two sets 25-21 and 25-19, setting the stage for a decisive fifth set.
From the outset, Murrieta Valley’s coach Ann Romero-Parks had anticipated the match would stretch to five sets, despite their early lead. Her intuition proved correct as Orange Lutheran, led by standout player Maylynn Mitchell, rallied to challenge the Nighthawks. Mitchell’s attack was relentless, contributing 21 kills and three aces throughout the match, giving the Lancers a fighting chance.
In the crucial final set, Murrieta Valley capitalized early with a 4-1 lead. Key plays from Miley Thunstrom, who demonstrated her offensive prowess with two kills and consecutive aces, pushed the Nighthawks ahead. Despite a valiant effort from the Lancers that saw them narrow the gap to 9-8 with a kill from Mitchell, Murrieta Valley held firm. Thunstrom again stepped up, delivering three more kills in a pivotal four-point sequence, while Cami Kenoi served up an ace. Short sealed the match with a decisive kill, sparking celebrations as Murrieta Valley secured an exhilarating 15-11 victory to move forward in the tournament.
Earlier in the match, Murrieta Valley faced an uphill battle in the first set, trailing 10-6 after a kill by Saniya Kimbrough. Yet, they rallied to tie the score at 13, thanks to Short’s well-placed kill. The Lancers responded with a 6-2 run to go up 19-15, but Murrieta Valley surged back with a 6-0 streak, marked by Thunstrom’s kills and Kenoi’s ace, to clinch the set.
The second set saw Murrieta Valley quickly establish an 8-1 lead, featuring aces from Melanie Hewlett and Thunstrom, combined with solid blocking from Tukua and Naomi Barbosa. Orange Lutheran countered with five aces in a nine-point span, but Short’s back-to-back aces ended the set, giving Murrieta Valley a 2-0 advantage.
Despite holding a 12-9 lead in the third set, Murrieta Valley couldn’t maintain their momentum as Orange Lutheran rallied, with Mitchell delivering three key kills and a block assist with Jazlynn Fu and Adisyn Tognazzini. Mitchell’s performance kept the Lancers’ hopes alive, ultimately forcing the match into the deciding fifth set.
Looking ahead, Murrieta Valley (26-7) will face third-seeded Etiwanda in the semi-final round on Saturday at 6 p.m. Etiwanda secured its spot by defeating South Torrance in four sets. Both teams will be eager to secure their place in the final, promising another exciting chapter in this year’s tournament.
For Orange Lutheran, reaching the quarterfinals has guaranteed their qualification for the CIF State playoff, ensuring their season continues despite the loss.
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