MURRIETA – Rancho Christian secured a 3-2 win over Murrieta Valley at the “Hawk House” on Tuesday, Aug. 20, taking the deciding set 15-13 after a competitive back-and-forth match. The preseason contest provided both teams with an early opportunity to evaluate lineups in a high-pressure environment.

The Eagles entered the matchup coming off a 3-1 loss to Xavier Prep. Murrieta Valley, following a recent 3-0 loss to Beaumont, sought to regain momentum as both teams used the fixture as an early gauge for the season.

Rancho Christian’s Janiah Burrage commands the court as she leads the Eagles to a hard-fought five-set victory against Murrieta Valley, making crucial plays in the deciding set. Valley News/David Canales photo

Both sides traded points throughout the matches, executing timely offense and defense. Janiah Burrage led Rancho Christian’s attack and was influential at the net during pivotal moments. Sophia Duguid added consistent pressure, testing the Nighthawk defense.

Murrieta Valley’s Summer Tukua contributed with several strong kills and consistent play on both sides of the net. Naomi Barbosa provided stability in the back row, while Avery Medvin and Khalia Jackson were effective at the net.

With the victory, Rancho Christian stands at 2-2, with two match results unreported. Last season the Eagles were 21-5 overall and went 9-1 in Ivy League play, securing a first-place finish and league title. They fell to Oaks Christian 3-1 in the opening round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.

Rancho Christian’s preseason calendar remains busy, including five more matches before opening league play at home against Liberty on Sept. 10. Three upcoming games will be against Southwestern League opponents: Chaparral, Murrieta Mesa and Great Oak. Rancho Christian is also scheduled to face Pahrump Valley from Nevada in the LVC tournament on Sept. 22.

Murrieta Valley, now 2-2 after the loss, rebounded the next day with a 3-0 win over Rancho Cucamonga in non-league play. The Nighthawks have five scheduled preseason matches remaining, as well as the Dave Mohs Tournament in Huntington Beach, before league play begins at home against Murrieta Mesa on Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

In 2024, Murrieta Valley compiled a 29-8 overall record and finished 9-1 in the Southwestern League, second only to Temecula Valley. The Nighthawks reached the CIF Division 1 playoffs where they fell to Oaks Christian in a 3-2 decision in the opening round.

Murrieta Valley’s Summer Tukua elevates for a powerful kill attempt, met head-to-head by Rancho Christian’s Sophia Duguid, who times her block attempt during a high-intensity third set.

Both coaching staffs are using the preseason to finalize lineups and prepare for conference competition. Tuesday’s tightly-contested match provided a strong early assessment for two of Southwest Riverside County’s top high school volleyball programs.

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JP Raineri

JP is an award-winning multimedia journalist and head of the sports department at the Valley News. A former Southwestern League head baseball coach and former President of the Temecula Youth Baseball League, he has also worked as a local radio personality for All Pro Broadcasting and as a television host for the Outdoor Channel. When he’s not covering sports, JP works in the Media Technology Department for Major League Baseball.

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