The strong performance by the Mater Dei High girls” volleyball team led to a stunning victory over Sierra Canyon, propelling them into the state championship match. This win came after a disappointing loss in the Southern Section Division 1 finals, marking a significant turnaround for the Monarchs.
In the Southern California Regional Open Division final held on a Tuesday night in Chatsworth, Mater Dei claimed victory in four sets with scores of 20-25, 25-16, 25-22, and 25-16. The outside hitter, Westley Matavao, was a standout performer, contributing 18 kills to the team”s success. After the match, Matavao expressed her admiration for her cousin, junior setter Lucky Fasavalu, who plays for Sierra Canyon and is committed to the University of Missouri. “We wanted this so much after losing to them last time and we came out swinging tonight,” Matavao said, highlighting her determination to win.
A decisive kill from Addison Coady wrapped up the third set, and Mater Dei quickly established a seven-point lead in the fourth set to secure their victory without allowing a comeback from the Trailblazers. “We played with so much confidence, and our energy showed up,” Matavao added. “We have specific serving targets, so we focused on that and were in great position on our blocking.”
Now, Mater Dei is set to pursue its third state Open Division title, facing Northern California champion Rocklin at 6:30 PM on Saturday at Santiago Canyon College in Orange. Rocklin made headlines by upsetting the top-seeded Archbishop Mitty in a five-set match on the same night. In addition to Matavao”s impressive performance, Layli Ostovar recorded 14 kills and 21 digs, while Emma Kingston contributed 10 kills and six blocks. Other key players included Lizzy Robinson with 19 digs, Kalea Lee with 24 assists, Sam Capinpin with 17 assists, and Jael Smith with six blocks.
The Monarchs” win not only avenged their previous loss to Sierra Canyon but also ended the Trailblazers” 19-match winning streak. This defeat marked the only loss for Sierra Canyon in California throughout the season, as they finished with a record of 41-4. Mater Dei, under the leadership of head coach Dan O”Dell, had previously dominated their matchups with Sierra Canyon, winning their first nine encounters before falling in the recent Southern Section Division 1 final.
Mater Dei previously captured its first state Open Division title in 2018 and followed it up with another championship in 2023. This year”s championship game presents an exciting opportunity for the Monarchs to continue their legacy in California high school volleyball.
