Mater Dei, Marymount headline Nike Tournament of Champions girls volleyball field in Arizona

Mater Dei and Marymount produced a thrilling three-set battle Sept. 21 in the final of the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas.

The California powers could be headed for a potential rematch at the Nike Tournament of Champions at the Arizona Athletic Grounds at Legacy Sports Complex in Mesa.

The prestigious annual event, which began in 2009, features 19 California schools among the 84 teams entered across three divisions – National, Premier and Elite – scheduled to compete Friday and Saturday, with each program participating in seven matches.

Competition is expected to start at 11 a.m. MST Friday and conclude at approximately 7 p.m., with playoff contests beginning at 8 a.m. MST Saturday and the championship matches scheduled for 4:45 p.m.

Mater Dei (22-3), which became the third California program to win back-to-back titles at the Durango Fall Classic by outlasting Marymount 25-18, 24-26, 28-26 in the championship, is seeking its first Nike TOC crown since defeating Walton High from Georgia 21-25, 25-15, 15-8 in the 2017 final.

Mater Dei is seeking its first Nike Tournament of Champions Platinum Division title since 2017 | Robert Kleinke photo

Marymount (21-4) has won more Platinum Division titles than any school in Nike TOC history with victories in 2018 and 2019 against Mater Dei, as well as the Sailors defeating Scottsdale Horizon from Arizona 25-14, 25-22 in the 2021 final, the last year they also won the Durango Fall Classic.

Marymount also prevailed against Mater Dei in the Nike TOC Platinum Division third-place match in 2022, and the Sailors captured the Gold Division championship in Arizona last season.

The programs combined for seven all-tournament honorees at the Durango Fall Classic, led by MVP Westley Matavao, a sophomore outside hitter at Mater Dei.

Matavao was joined on the all-tournament team in Las Vegas by teammates Samantha Capinpin, Presley Kiffin and Layli Ostovar.

Samantha Destler, Olivia Penske and Ella Vandeweghe received all-tournament recognition for Marymount.

Marymount has won more Platinum Division titles at Nike Tournament of Champions than any school in event history with victories in 2018, 2019 and 2021 | Robert Kleinke photo

Cornerstone Christian of Texas (29-2), which won the 2022 Platinum Division crown against Mira Costa at Nike TOC before suffering a 25-19, 22-25, 15-6 setback in the final last season against Mountain View St. Francis, has split a pair of matches this season against Marymount and could face the Sailors for a third time in Arizona.

Marymount rallied for a 20-25, 25-19, 25-23 semifinal victory against Cornerstone Christian in Las Vegas after enduring a 25-12, 25-20 semifinal loss Aug. 31 to the Warriors at the Kamehameha Schools Labor Day Classic in Hawaii.

Megan Fitch and Sydney Whisenton were all-tournament selections for Cornerstone Christian at the Durango Fall Classic.

Mater Dei is scheduled to compete Friday in National Division pool play against Arizona programs Hamilton and Mica Mountain, as well as La Cueva High from New Mexico.

Marymount is matched up with Arizona schools Centennial and Perry, in addition to DuPont Manual from Kentucky in its National Division pool.

Six other California programs are scheduled to compete in the National Division, including Mater Dei’s Trinity League rival Santa Margarita (14-6), as well as Vista Murrieta (7-7), Ontario Christian (20-5), Chula Vista Eastlake (10-4), The Bishop’s School from La Jolla (15-4) and Sacred Heart Prep (12-5).

Eastlake is in the same pool as Cornerstone Christian, along with Arizona schools Notre Dame Prep and Salpointe Catholic.

Vista Murrieta is paired in its pool with Arizona programs Horizon and Xavier College Prep, plus Oviedo High from Florida.

The Bishop’s School is joined in its pool by Arizona entries Pinnacle and Sunrise Mountain, as well as Portland Jesuit from Oregon.

Santa Margarita is scheduled to face Arizona schools Casteel and Liberty in its pool, in addition to Tampa Prep from Florida.

Ontario Christian is matched up against Arizona programs Sunnyslope and Valley Christian, along with Omaha Westside from Nebraska.

Sacred Heart Prep’s pool includes Arizona teams Mountain Ridge and Queen Creek, with Fossil Ridge High from Colorado completing the lineup.

Brawley Union, Campbell Hall, Chico, James Logan, Mission Hills and Norco are the six California schools scheduled to compete Friday in Premier Division pool play.

Bishop O’Dowd, Oceanside El Camino, Minarets, Moreno Valley and Whittier Christian are all participating in Elite Division pool-play matches Friday.