Mater Dei will play Redondo Union Nov. 9 for the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 girls’ volleyball championship after defeating archrival Marymount three sets to one in the Nov. 2 semifinals.
The third-seeded Monarchs (29-4), which defeated Marymount in the 2017 and 2018 D-1 finals, prevailed 25-18, 22-25, 26-24, 25-19 over the second-seeded Sailors (33-4) in the match at Santa Ana, the third time the two Catholic schools have met this season. Marymount had won the first two meetings, both by two sets to one in tournament play.
Top-seeded Redondo Union (37-3) got by No. 4 Sierra Canyon 3-0 in the other semifinal to earn the right to play Mater Dei. The Monarchs — seeking their third straight CIF-SS D-1 title and second straight state title under coach Dan O’Dell — are making their seventh straight finals appearance, having also won the 2015 title by beating Redondo Union.
The Division 2 semifinal between tenth-seeded Bishop Montgomery (26-5) and Esperanza (27-7) will be played Nov. 5, with the winner playing Murrieta Valley (27-8) for the title on Nov. 9.
Three other Catholic schools lost in the semifinals of their respective divisions:
D-6: No. 5 St. Bonaventure lost to No. 1 Linfield Christian 3-0, after the Seraphs had beaten No. 4 Buckley 3-1 in the quarterfinals on Oct. 31.
D-7: Fifth-seeded Sacred Heart lost to Desert Christian Academy 3-0.
D-8: Unseeded St. Bernard nearly continued its run of upsets, but lost 3-2 to No. 2 Trinity Classical.
