Mater Dei won its record third Open Division girls volleyball title, including its second in three years, with a 25-13, 25-22, 25-18 victory Saturday against Rocklin at the CIF State Championships at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.
The Monarchs (35-5) also captured Open Division championships in 2018 and 2023 under head coach Dan O’Dell.
Bret Almazan-Cezar led Rocklin (37-5) to its first state final, in addition to becoming the first girls volleyball coach in California prep history to guide three different schools to state championship matches.
Almazan-Cezar won 11 titles – including a pair in the Open Division in 2016-17 – at Archbishop Mitty, in addition to state finals appearances as the head of the Lincoln Stockton program in 1998-99.
The victory by Mater Dei concluded a two-day schedule at Santiago Canyon College that included sweeps in all six state championship matches, the first time that has occurred since the finals schedule expanded to five divisions in 1991 and increased to six with the addition of the Open Division in 2016.
Mater Dei celebrates a record third CIF Open Division state girls volleyball title with a sweep of Rocklin | Photo courtesy of Alex Valladares
Layli Ostovar led Mater Dei with 15 kills and nine digs, becoming one of four Monarchs to win a second Open Division state title, along with setter Sam Capinpin (20 assists, six digs) and middle blockers Addison Coady (six kills, two blocks) and Emma Kingston (three kills, two blocks), all members of the 2023 championship roster.
Kale’a Lee, a transfer from Cathedral Catholic, also won a second Open Division state championship after helping the Dons capture the title last year by defeating Archbishop Mitty.
Lee contributed 11 assists, six digs and two kills for Mater Dei, which also received 11 kills and eight digs from Westley Matavao.
Lizzy Robinson, a transfer from Community School of Naples in Florida, had 11 digs and two aces for the Monarchs, with Redondo Union transfer Shewa Adefemiwa adding five kills and freshman Jael Smith recording three kills for Mater Dei.
Gianna Bogan, a senior outside hitter, had nine kills for Rocklin, which held a six-point advantage midway through the second set, before Mater Dei rallied for the victory by scoring the final four points.
Senior Rylee Heinz and freshman Sidney Jones both added five kills for Rocklin, with Ava Pabalate recording 20 assists and six digs, and Sophie Burns achieving a match-high four aces to go along with six digs.
Division 1: Harvard-Westlake 3, Woodcreek 0
Kylie Parker, a senior outside hitter, led the Wolverines (28-8) with 14 kills and 15 digs in a 25-22, 25-14, 25-17 victory to capture the sixth state championship in program history, including the first since winning the Division 1 title in 2021.
Harvard-Westlake also remained unbeaten all-time in state finals, including its first in the Division 3 championship in 1995.
Harvard-Westlake won its sixth all-time CIF state girls volleyball title, including the first in Division 1 since 2021 | Photo courtesy of Harvard-Westlake
Morgan Wijay, a former assistant for the Wolverines who returned as head coach this season, became the fourth different Harvard-Westlake mentor to win a state championship for the program.
Sophia Cotter added 11 kills, Kahala Faucher had nine kills, with Lauryn Lewis and Maya Stillwell both contributing six kills for the Wolverines, who received 41 assists and seven digs from setter Grace Ge, in addition to 12 digs by Lucy Stillwell.
Ashley Sakonju produced 12 digs and a match-high five aces for Harvard-Westlake, including three during a five-point run in the third set to close out the championship.
Katelyn Hull had seven kills and seven blocks for Woodcreek (42-7), with freshman twin sister Kennedy Hull adding five kills and six blocks.
Mya Taylor and Lilliana Saldivar each contributed five kills and Samantha Campanale had 20 digs for the first-time state finalist Timberwolves.
Division 2: Cypress 3, Clovis West 0
In a showdown of first-time state finalists, Cypress relied on 14 kills, 12 digs and five aces from senior outside hitter Isabella Faro to earn a 25-20, 25-23, 25-22 victory.
Hannah Schoffstall added 29 assists and 11 digs for Cypress (25-10), with Kendel Harris accumulating nine kills and 10 digs, Leona Alexis contributing seven kills and seven digs, as well as Katrina Sokolowski recording seven kills for the Centurions, who didn’t commit a hitting error in the opening set.
Brooklyn Lopez led Clovis West (31-14) with 15 kills, five digs and two aces, with Layla Soares adding 10 kills and seven digs for the Golden Eagles.
Eve Dixon recorded 28 assists, seven digs and two kills, Jaden Graham contributed eight kills and 10 digs, with Courtlin Pulliam producing 12 digs, four assists and two aces for Clovis West, which had more kills than Cypress by a 42-40 margin, but was hurt by committing 22 errors.
Division 3: Academy of Our Lady of Peace 3, Sequoia 0
Another matchup highlighting both teams making their first appearances in state finals witnessed senior setter Caitlin Prior lead Academy of Our Lady of Peace with 33 assists, three kills, three assists and six digs in a 25-18, 25-23, 25-19 victory against Sequoia.
Charlotte Wickstrand had 13 kills and nine digs, Talia Butler achieved eight kills, 12 digs and five blocks, Dylan Wilson accumulated seven kills and eight digs, with Delilah Wilson recording six kills, eight blocks and four digs, in addition to Amanda Guzman collecting 14 digs for the Pilots (22-11).
Katalina Tuipulotu had 10 kills and 15 digs for Sequoia (25-16), with Samantha McMurtry adding 13 kills and two aces, along with Kiera Winters contributing six kills and four digs for the Ravens.
Jayda McGlennon accumulated 30 assists and three digs, as well as Joslin Fiel recording 12 digs for Sequoia.
Division 4: Immanuel 3, Capistrano Valley Christian 0
Following three Division 5 state championships, including last year, Immanuel won its first Division 4 state crown with a 25-22, 25-13, 25-22 victory against Capistrano Valley Christian, which suffered its first setback in a state final after winning the first two Division 5 titles in 1991-92.
Spencer Horn, a senior opposite hitter, had 13 kills and 15 digs for Immanuel (27-16), with Lily Hughes adding 10 kills and Tori Visser contributing 34 assists and 11 digs.
Brooklynn Semper recorded 23 digs, three assists and two aces for Immanuel, Cami Chernekoff contributed six kills, 17 digs and three aces, Addison Efird had six kills and three blocks, with Grace Thomas achieving seven kills.
Immanuel joined Francis Parker, Santa Fe Christian, La Jolla Country Day and Ripon Christian among the schools to win both Division 4 and 5 state titles.
Faith Williams had 11 kills and four blocks for Capistrano Valley Christian (14-22), Hope Van Rensselear contributed six kills and 22 digs, McKenzie Meserve added 24 assists, 15 digs and four aces, with Kaia Pelkey achieving five kills and six digs.
Joy Carney also accumulated 22 digs for Capistrano Valley Christian.
Division 5: Hilmar 3, Elsinore 0
After losing in its first two state finals appearances, including a five-set loss to South Pasadena in the Division 4 championship match last year, Hilmar secured its first state title with a 26-24, 25-16, 25-19 win against first-time finalist Elsinore.
Stella Pires, a senior setter, recorded 28 assists, six kills, seven digs and two blocks for Hilmar (27-16), which relinquished a two-set lead in the setback last season against South Pasadena.
The Yellowjackets overcame a 24-23 deficit against Elsinore (17-18) to win the first set, then relied on significant service runs from senior libero Lia Salvador to close out the final two sets.
Salvador had five digs, two assists and an ace, in addition to serving eight consecutive points in the second set and seven in a row in the third for Hilmar.
Emma Gomes contributed 10 kills, four digs and two blocks, Alyssa Colston achieved seven kills and four digs, Emily Barroso added six kills and three digs, with Reese Ahlem producing four kills and five blocks, in addition to freshman Johanna Lawler collecting five kills for the Yellowjackets.
Jaycee Hullar led Elsinore with 12 kills, four digs and three aces, with Madeline Fieraru adding five kills.
Naomi Le and Melody Meza combined for 23 assists, Bayley Mugica had four blocks, Amber Svidergol produced three aces and Olivia Stanley accumulated eight digs for the Tigers.