It was difficult to decide what the most impressive act of the day was for Mater Dei sophomore standout Westley Matavao, whether it was helping the Monarchs with 12 kills and seven digs in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 girls volleyball final against Sierra Canyon or leading family, friends and supporters in an authentic Samoan haka, as she stood on top of a courtside table as if she was an orchestra conductor following the match Saturday night at Cerritos College in Norwalk.
When it came to deciding the top team in the Southern Section for the second year in a row, there was little difficulty for Mater Dei, which relied on 11 kills and 10 digs from junior Layli Ostovar as well as Matavao’s significant contributions to produce a 25-20, 25-16, 25-20 sweep of Sierra Canyon.
Westley Matavao of Mater Dei | Photo courtesy of Westley Matavao
The Monarchs (35-4) captured their second straight Division 1 crown, including a sweep last year against Mira Costa, and won back-to-back championships for the first time since 2017-18.
Mater Dei secured the eighth title in program history, including a three-peat in Division 2-A from 2001-03, along with a Division 1-AA title in 2015.
Despite a 25-18, 25-18 sweep Sept. 21 against Sierra Canyon (32-5) at the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas, Mater Dei received the No. 2 seed in the eight-team Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, with the Trailblazers receiving the top seed.
The Monarchs reached Saturday’s final by allowing a combined one set in victories against Los Alamitos, Redondo Union and Huntington Beach.
Sierra Canyon endured a five-set loss Nov. 2 in its final pool-play contest against Mira Costa, but still managed to advance to the championship match based on a three-way tiebreaker that also included Mission League rival Marymount.
The Trailblazers were seeking their second Division 1 title in three years after sweeping Mira Costa in the 2022 final, but Mater Dei needed less than 90 minutes to secure the championship and remain unbeaten against California opponents with Ostovar and Matavao, an Orange Lutheran transfer, in the lineup this season.
Samantha Capinpin recorded 20 assists and four aces, with Ayva Ostovar contributing 13 assists for Mater Dei, which received 15 digs from libero Kayla Ostovar.
Kayla Ostovar | Photo courtesy of Keith Birmingham
Presley Kiffin had six kills, with Addison Coady and Emma Kingston both recording five kills each for the Monarchs, who accumulated 11 aces and limited Sierra Canyon to hitting .085 as a team.
Eva Jeffries accumulated seven kills and seven digs, with Hanna McGinest adding five kills, Lucky Fasavalu recording nine assists and seven digs, along with Lauren Lynch contributing 12 digs for the Trailblazers, who dropped to 0-7 in program history against Mater Dei.
The Monarchs, who have rebounded to win seven in a row since a semifinal loss to Scottsdale Horizon in the Platinum Bracket Premier Division semifinals Oct. 5 at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, are expected to receive the top seed in the Open Division in the Southern California Regional playoffs, which begin Wednesday.
Mater Dei won the Open Division state title last year and is attempting to become the first team to capture back-to-back championships since Archbishop Mitty in 2016-17.
Mater Dei produced a 25-18, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21 victory against Archbishop Mitty in last year’s Open Division state final.