Facing some of the top girls volleyball teams in the nation, including four in the top 20, Mira Costa and Redondo knew the Durango Fall Classic would provide a challenge when the teams competed in Las Vegas last weekend.
Entering the tournament, Redondo was ranked No. 34 in the PrepVolleyball.com Century Club National Rankings and got off to a good start going undefeated in pool play, sweeping Galena (Reno, NV) and St. Mary’s (Stockton).
The Sea Hawks reached the Gold Division after a 25-19, 25-10 victory over Long Beach Wilson and a 25-17, 25-23 win over Torrey Pines (No. 38).
Then the trouble began. After a 25-20, 25-13 loss to eventual champion Assumption (Louisville, KY), the 13th-ranked team in the nation, Redondo was defeated by 16th-ranked Kamehameha (Honolulu, HI) 21-25, 25-9, 25-13 and edged by Clovis West 25-23, 21-25, 25-23 to finish 8th in the 48-team tournament.
“We learned that when we’re on, we can be pretty good,” Redondo head coach Tommy Chaffins said. “We played hard throughout and we got a whole lot better playing such great competition throughout the weekend.”
Redondo libero Tiffany Morales was acknowledged for her performance being selected to the all-tournament team. Olivia Bustamante, Skylar Dykstra and Brianna Lanktree also had strong performances for the Sea Hawks.
“Tiffany played great the whole time and is the anchor to our D,” Chaffins commented.
Playing high caliber opponents will benefit the Sea Hawks in the long run but it doesn’t get any easier before league action begins.
Redondo hosted Orange Lutheran Tuesday but was defeated in five games 25-20, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-12. Dykstra recorded 17 kills and 18 digs, Lanktree had 17 kills, Bustamante had 50 assists and Morales added 14 digs for the Sea Hawks.
“Our opponent was highly motivated since we ended their season (a second-round loss) last year,” Chaffins said. “We made too many errors tonight and Orange Lutheran played great, especially in the fifth set. We will come back to practice and get better and grind, that is what we do.”
Redondo continues its demanding non-league schedule hosting Mater Dei (No. 9 in Division 1-AA) Tuesday, Sept 27 at 6 p.m.
Mira Costa began pool play dropping the first set to Clovis West, but rebounded to win the match 20-25, 25-20, 25-17. The Mustangs defeated Pleasant Grove (UT) 25-18, 25-22 and South Torrance 18-25, 25-15, 25-22 but fell to perennial CIF-San Diego Section powerhouse La Costa Canyon 25-19, 25-23.
The loss dropped Mira Costa into the Silver Division bracket where it beat Notre Dame (Park Hills, KY) 25-22, 25-22 before losing to Torrey Pines 25-19, 25-22 and falling to Edison 25-22, 25-23 in the third-place match. The Mustangs finished 12th overall.
Grayce Campbell recorded 34 kills to lead Mira Costa in the two-day tournament. Maddie Klineman had 33 kills and 16 digs and Corie Bain added 31 kills and 52 digs.
In final tune-ups before Mira Costa opens Bay League play against Palos Verdes, the Mustangs hosted top-ranked Los Alamitos Tuesday and will take on Marymount in Fisher Gym on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Los Alamitos, which finished second in the Durango tournament, showed why it’s ranked No. 1 in Division 1-AA. After falling behind 12-4 in the first set, the Griffins stormed back to take the first game 25-23, held off the Mustangs 25-22 in the second and dominated the third set 25-15.
Campbell led Mira Costa with 10 kills, Klineman contributed nine kills, three aces and two blocks, Katie Warshaw recorded 19 digs and Bain added 18 assists and 13 digs.
