ORANGE – Mater Dei’s girls volleyball team made the most of a second chance.
Having lost in the CIF Southern Section finals two weeks previous, Mater Dei won the CIF State Open Division championship with a sweep of Rocklin, 25-13, 25-22, 25-18, Saturday at Santiago Canyon College.
Mater Dei senior outside hitter Layli Ostovar had a match-high 31 kills. Junior outside hitter Westley Matavao added 20 kills. Senior setter Sam Capinin contributed 43 assists.
It is Mater Dei’s third CIF State championship in girls volleyball.
La Habra and Los Alamitos also have three CIF State girls volleyball championships. Newport Harbor has five girls volleyball state titles, and Corona del Mar has four.
The Monarchs lost to Sierra Canyon in four sets in the CIF-SS Division 1 final on Nov. 8. They got their revenge in the CIF Southern California Regional final, beating Sierra Canyon in four sets.
“We played like we can play,” was Mater Dei coach Dan O’Dell’s explanation of the regional final win over Sierra Canyon.
The Monarchs, who finished 35-5, played like a state championship team should play as they beat Rocklin (37-5), the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 champion. Rocklin beat Archbishop Mitty in the CIF Northern California Regional final.
Mater Dei was consistently in the right place defensively, passed with precision and the sets of Capinen and Keala Lee put the ball right where Matavao and Ostovar needed it to be.
“What a great way to end my senior year,” Ostovar said. “Playing with my favorite team so far. It’s something really special to me.”
The Monarchs methodically pulled away in the first set for the 25-13 win.
Mater Dei fell behind 12-6 in the second set. O’Dell called a time out. The Monarchs, with Shewa Adefemiwa and Jael Smith also providing clutch points, went on a 10-5 run to cut its deficit to 17-16. A block by Smith put Mater Dei on top 23-22 and an Ostovar kill ended it, 25-22.
Rocklin and Mater Dei traded the lead in the third set. It was 12-12 when the Monarchs took off. Ostovar kills produced the final three Mater Dei points including the match-winner from the left side for the 25-18 victory.
The Monarchs played with confidence from the start Saturday.
“I was very happy with the way we came out,” O’Dell. “I was worried … Rocklin is one of those teams I know is going to live and die by the service line and put a lot of pressure on us with their serve.”
Ostovar, who signed with USC, will graduate early and be on the USC campus in spring, was last season’s Orange County player of the year. She played like a player of the year Saturday.
O’Dell was impressed.
“She was something else tonight,” O’Dell said. “She must have tons of adrenaline because she was sensational. She was the best kid on the court.”
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