SAN DIEGO – Of all the potential Mother’s Day gifts Cathedral Catholic coach Juliana Conn could have received, sharing one more championship moment at San Diego Mesa College with senior daughter Maya Evens was the most meaningful.
Among all the CIF-San Diego Section beach volleyball titles earned by top-seeded Cathedral Catholic, the 3-2 victory Saturday against rival Torrey Pines in the Open Division final was perhaps the most improbable in the Dons’ dynastic run.
And with all the standouts on Cathedral Catholic’s remarkable roster, it was unsung heroes Ava Hanna and Kai Welch at the No. 5 pairing who produced the most significant sweep against the rival Falcons, helping the Dons deliver again in the spotlight with their fourth consecutive championship.
Hanna, a junior, and her sophomore teammate Welch emerged victorious by a 21-17, 21-17 margin against sophomore Greta Pennock and freshman Ella Hamilton to produce the first point for Cathedral Catholic (17-0), which triumphed by a 3-2 margin for the second time in a five-day span against No. 3 Torrey Pines (21-3).
Ava Hanna, left, and Kai Welch of Cathedral Catholic won at the No. 5 pairing for the Dons in the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division beach volleyball final | Erik Boal photo
Evens and fellow senior Mae Kordas were both competing in their first beach volleyball seasons for the Dons after the San Diego Section amended its rules this spring to allow athletes to compete in both indoor club tournaments as well as participate in the sand schedule for their respective high schools.
Cathedral Catholic needed to rely on the same composure, efficiency and big-play ability that Evens and Kordas both demonstrated during the Dons’ run to the Open Division girls volleyball indoor state championship Nov. 23 with a sweep of Archbishop Mitty at Santiago Canyon College, and the seniors responded Saturday at the No. 1 pairing against senior Holly Cassidy and sophomore Kelly Randolph.
Despite both sets being tied at 17-17, Evens and Kordas – both Notre Dame commits – elevated their collective efforts when they were needed most to secure a 21-18, 21-18 victory and a 2-0 advantage following the first rotation.
Mae Kordas, Chris Law, Juliana Conn and Maya Evens celebrate four-peat for Cathedral Catholic beach volleyball team in CIF-San Diego Section Open Division final | Erik Boal photo
Peyton Bergman, a senior, and junior teammate Lauren Hanson fed off the momentum created by Hanna and Welch, in addition to Evens and Kordas, to quickly secure the opening set at the No. 2 pairing against Torrey Pines sophomores Mila Bryant and Conner Oxberry.
Aubrie Dingman, a sophomore, and freshman Parker Herrin helped Torrey Pines achieve its first point with a 21-7, 21-10 triumph in the No. 3 showdown against Cathedral Catholic’s tandem of junior Bella Ayers and freshman Harlow Jarvis.
Although Bryant and Oxberry remained even midway through the second set, Bergman and Hanson closed in impressive fashion, relying on relentless defense and timely blocking to clinch the championship with a 21-7, 21-16 victory.
Cathedral Catholic prevailed against Torrey Pines for the fourth straight year in the top division at the CIF-San Diego Section beach volleyball finals | Erik Boal photo
Sofia Ulmanella, a sophomore, and freshman Shayla Barry rallied from a setback in the opening set for Torrey Pines to outlast Cathedral Catholic sophomore Georgia Brennan and freshman Ana Laverty by a 13-21, 21-15, 15-11 margin at the No. 4 pairing.
Despite the late setback, the Dons still extended their winning streak to a 19 in a row, including a 3-2 triumph in last year’s Open Division final against Torrey Pines at Miramar College.
Despite Conn and Dons’ assistant coach Chris Law not having USC-bound senior Gracen Daniels and sophomore standout JoJo Wilson available to compete in Saturday’s final, Cathedral Catholic still prevailed in its eighth consecutive section championship matchup against Torrey Pines, including the past four Open Division indoor girls volleyball finals, along with every beach volleyball title showdown in San Diego prep history.
Cathedral Catholic completed an unbeaten season with a 3-2 victory against Torrey Pines in the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division beach volleyball final | Erik Boal photo
With Redondo Union producing a 3-2 victory against Mira Costa in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 beach volleyball final May 3 at Long Beach City College, Cathedral Catholic now boasts the longest beach volleyball section championship streak of any program in the state.
The Dons, who also received a 21-12, 21-11 victory from Emilie LaSala and Samantha Saba in an added exhibition match against Kate Casson and Sam Vargas, also completed their third unbeaten season in the past four years.