Mater Dei romped, Marymount rallied, and 12 other Catholic school teams made it through the first round of the CIF-Southern Section girls’ volleyball playoffs Oct. 17-18.

Mater Dei, the top-ranked team in Division 1, posted a straight set win over Great Oak, 25-14, 25-15, 25-11, while Marymount, ranked third, had to come from behind in its 24-26, 27-25, 13-25, 25-20, 15-7 victory over Lakewood.

In the quarterfinals Oct. 24, Mater Dei (36-2) plays Long Beach Poly (30-8) while Marymount (30-8) takes on Foothill/Santa Ana (21-3), which eliminated Santa Margarita in the first round in straight sets. The other D-1 quarterfinal matches: Redondo Union vs. San Juan Hills, and Sierra Canyon vs. Temecula Valley.

All other divisions are 32-team brackets, meaning that first round winners must play a second round match Oct. 20 before next week’s quarterfinals. First round results:

  • D-2: Aliso Niguel beat La Salle in straight sets. Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks (20-8) beat Orange Lutheran in four sets, and plays Santiago/Corona (17-11). Flintridge-Sacred Heart (25-14) beat San Marcos in straight sets, and plays San Clemente (26-7). St. Joseph/Lakewood (23-6), which had a first round bye, plays Edison (17-14).
  • D-3: Notre Dame Academy beat Saugus in straight sets and Alemany defeated West Ranch, 25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 27-25. South Torrance beat Louisville, Hart beat St. Paul, and Arcadia beat St. Lucy’s. In Round 2, Notre Dame Academy (17-13) plays Burroughs/Burbank (23-7), and Alemany (24-6) plays Arcadia (17-1).
  • D-4: Bishop Montgomery (19-12) defeated Gahr in straight sets and plays Mayfair (18-13 in the second round. Mayfield rallied but lost to Villa Park, 25-19, 25-23, 19-25, 18-25, 15-13.
  • D-5: St. Anthony (20-10) beat La Serna to advance against Cerritos (24-3), while Bishop Amat (19-7) beat Palm Desert and now plays Oak Hills (24-7).
  • D-6: St. Genevieve (13-10) beat Firebaugh in straight sets and now plays Duarte (28-7). Archer School defeated St. Monica/Santa Monica.
  • D-7: Mary Star of the Sea (18-8) downed Cantwell-Sacred Heart, 25-13, 25-23, 25-19, and next plays Cate (14-4). Sacred Heart (12-7) beat Pete Knight in four sets, and will play Don Lugo (13-7).
  • D-8: Villanova (12-5) defeated Holy Family in three sets, to advance against Orangewood Academy (15-10). South El Monte beat St. Monica Academy/Montrose. (12-5),
  • In wild card matches played Oct. 16, Santa Barbara beat La Reina (D-4); Hawthorne MSA beat St. Mary’s Academy (D-7); and Villanova Prep beat Pacific Lutheran, Santa Rosa Academy beat Bishop Conaty-Loretto, and Trinity Classical Academy beat Bishop Diego (all D-8).

Quarterfinals in all divisions are Oct. 24, semifinals Oct. 27 and finals Nov. 3, followed by Southern California Regional and State Championships. 

Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).

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