For the second time in a three-week span, the Mater Dei High girls volleyball team found itself playing in a deciding third set against a California rival in a tournament final.
The biggest difference for the Monarchs in Saturday’s championship match against Marymount at the 29th Durango Fall Classic was the presence of sophomore outside hitter Westley Matavao.
Tournament MVP Westley Matavao
After being forced to endure a mandatory 30-day sit-out period imposed by CIF-Southern Section officials following her transfer from Orange Lutheran, Matavao made a significant impact in her first week playing for Mater Dei, leading the Monarchs to nine victories, capped by a 25-18, 24-26, 28-26 triumph in the final against the Sailors to earn tournament MVP honors at Durango High.
Mater Dei (21-3) repeated as Durango Fall Classic champion, becoming the first program to capture consecutive titles since Assumption High from Kentucky achieved the feat in 2017-18. The Rockets also won back-to-back championships in Las Vegas in 2014-15.
The only other California programs to win consecutive Durango Fall Classic crowns are Torrey Pines in 2012-13 and Mira Costa in 2006-07.
Matavao, who didn’t play for Mater Dei in a 25-14, 28-30, 16-14 loss Sept. 7 to Cathedral Catholic in the final of the Dave Mohs Memorial Tournament, had 12 kills and 13 digs against Marymount (20-4), which also reached the Durango Fall Classic final in 2022 after winning the title in 2021.
Matavao had 55 kills and 66 digs in 15 sets spanning seven Durango Fall Classic matches for Mater Dei, which also needed three sets Saturday to outlast both Marist High from Illinois (13-3) and top-ranked Prestonwood Christian of Texas (24-2), as well as producing a sweep of California rival Sierra Canyon (19-2) during its run to the championship.
Matavao, who accumulated 24 kills and 14 digs in a five-set victory on Sept. 19 against Bishop Gorman in a tuneup match ahead of the Durango Fall Classic, was joined on the all-tournament team by Mater Dei teammates Presley Kiffin, Layli Ostovar and Samantha Capinpin.
Ostovar had 12 kills and six digs in the final against Marymount, with Kiffin contributing six kills and Capinpin recording 17 assists.
Ostovar accumulated 46 kills and 41 digs, Kiffin had 38 kills and 25 digs, with Capinpin contributing 81 assists for the tournament for the Monarchs.
Samantha Destler, who produced 10 kills and six digs in the final against Mater Dei, was one of three all-tournament selections for Marymount, in addition to Olivia Penske and Elle Vandeweghe.
Penske recorded 24 assists in the final, with Vandeweghe adding five kills and four blocks for the Sailors.
Destler amassed 70 kills and 38 digs, Vandeweghe achieved 42 kills and 23 blocks, with Penske contributing 192 assists at the event for Marymount, which survived three-set battles against Mira Costa in the quarterfinals and Cornerstone Christian from Texas in the semifinals to reach the championship again following an uncharacteristic 19th-place finish in the 64-team field in Las Vegas last season.
Marymount was also able to atone for an Aug. 22 nonleague loss to Mira Costa, as well as an Aug. 31 setback to Cornerstone Christian in the gold division semifinals of the Kamehameha Schools Labor Day Classic in Hawaii.
Sierra Canyon senior libero Lauren Lynch, along with junior outside hitters Audrey Flanagan of Mira Costa and Abby Zimmerman from Redondo Union also earned all-tournament recognition.
Lynch had 47 digs for Sierra Canyon, which rebounded from being swept by Mater Dei in the quarterfinals to defeat Redondo Union and Casteel High of Arizona to finish fifth overall.
Flanagan and Zimmerman both led their respective programs to the quarterfinals, before Mira Costa and Redondo Union – Bay League rivals competing Thursday – both lost consecutive matches to finish tied for seventh.
Cathedral Catholic, which won the Durango Fall Classic in 2022 and entered the event as one of the pre-tournament favorites following its victory against Mater Dei at the Dave Mohs Memorial, suffered a 25-19, 25-19 loss Saturday to Marymount and dropped to the Silver Division.
The Dons (25-3) rebounded from a three-set setback to eventual Silver Division champion Xavier College Prep of Arizona in the opening round of the playoffs by sweeping Skutt Catholic of Nebraska and Carrollwood Day School from Florida to finish fifth in the division and 13th overall.
Torrey Pines (12-4) won the Bronze Division championship with a 23-25, 26-24, 25-17 victory against Bishop Gorman.
Huntington Beach (26-3) captured the Classic Division title with a 25-18, 25-18 sweep of Bakersfield Liberty High in the final.
Vista Murrieta (7-7) regrouped following a disappointing effort in the opening set of the Challenger Division championship match to prevail 7-25, 25-21, 25-23 against Arbor View of Nevada.
