Battle at the Beach to decide IBVL Bay Division champ

Lan Nguyen, who won the 2013 Pairs championship with teammate Skylar Caputo, will help Mira Costa attempt to defend its IBVL title. Photo courtesy of IBVL

Lan Nguyen, who won the 2013 Pairs championship with teammate Skylar Caputo, will help Mira Costa attempt to defend its IBVL title. Photo courtesy of IBVL

The final week of the girls Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League (IBVL) takes place Saturday, April 26 with many division matches having playoff implications.

The marquee match up pits defending IBVL champion Mira Costa against rival Redondo Union. Both teams are undefeated with 6-0 records (2-0 in division) and ranked second and third, respectively, in the coach’s poll.

The No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 two-person teams from each school will face those of its opponent. The school winning two matches is declared the winner.

Four division titles will be decided by matches at Dockweiler Beach, but none as large as the Mira Costa-Redondo showdown for the Bay Division crown that will take place on courts 1-2-3 at 11 a.m.

The winner will most likely earn the second seed in the playoffs behind No. 1 Valencia.

“The Mira Costa-Redondo match up is always an exciting one,” said Mira Costa coach Michelle Moriarty Lonergan. “I think our teams match up really well against each other this year and it will be a battle. My Costa girls have been training hard all season (and year round) for the competition and I think we have the talent and drive to win.”

Teams often vary as players take college entrance exams and fulfill club team commitments but Mira Costa has excelled with a strong roster that includes Skylar Caputo, Lindsay Chalmers, Brooke Feld, Sammy Furlan, Kelly Anna Geiser, Katrina Kernochan, Claudia Lemieux, Lan Nguyen, Katie Rethmeyer, Keala Rusher and Emma Smith.

Redondo will be led by the No. 1 team of Abril Bustamante and Dominique Dodd. Battling for positions on the No. 2 and No. 3 teams are Rachel Arrigo, Lauren Cordero, Kaleigh Hanley, Jessica Koopmann, Marissa Mitter, Madi Relaz, Fayth Ryn, Keely Twitchell and Brittany Ungermann.

Undefeated Redondo Union takes on rival Mira Costa for the IBVL Bay Division title. Team members include (top row, left to right) Coach Jessica Jones, Madi Relaz, Brittany Ungermann, Marissa Mitter, Lauren Cordero, Fayth Ryn, Coach Mark Paaluhi, (bottom row) Rachel Arrigo, Keely Twitchell, Kaleigh Hanley and Jessica Koopmann. Not pictured: Abril Bustamante, Dominique Dodd. Photo courtesy of Jessica Jones

Undefeated Redondo Union takes on rival Mira Costa for the IBVL Bay Division title. Team members include (top row, left to right) Coach Jessica Jones, Madi Relaz, Brittany Ungermann, Marissa Mitter, Lauren Cordero, Fayth Ryn, Coach Mark Paaluhi, (bottom row) Rachel Arrigo, Keely Twitchell, Kaleigh Hanley and Jessica Koopmann. Not pictured: Abril Bustamante, Dominique Dodd. Photo courtesy of Jessica Jones

“Our team is confident and excited about the match-up against Mira Costa,” said Redondo coach Jessica Jones. “Our girls have been training hard and focusing on the details during practice. Regardless of the school we play, our team will compete, stay positive and have fun.”

Prior to facing Redondo, Mira Costa will take on West Torrance (1-5, 1-1) at 9 p.m. Redondo will play its second match of the day at 1 p.m. against Serra (2-4, 0-2). Also competing in the Bay Division is Palos Verdes (2-4, 0-2) which will play Serra at 9 a.m. and West at 12 p.m.

At 10 a.m., top-ranked Valencia (6-0, 2-0) will take on Oaks Christian (4-2, 2-0) for the Mountain crown and Notre Dame (4-2, 2-0) will battle Alemany (2-4, 2-0) for the Mission title.

The Ocean championship will be decided by the El Segundo (4-2, 2-0) and Palisades Charter (4-2, 2-0) match at 11 a.m.

The first round of the playoffs will be held Wednesday and Thursday, May 7-8; the second round on Friday, May 9 and the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship finals on Saturday, May 10.

For more information, visit ibvl.org.

 

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