Mater Dei girls' volleyball team lost this weekend to Redondo Union. (Mater Dei Athletics)
Mater Dei’s late rally fell short as Redondo Union held on to defeat the Monarchs in four sets Nov. 9 for the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 girls’ volleyball title.
In winning 25-19, 25-16, 16-25, 25-21, top-seeded Redondo Union (38-3) played solidly throughout to upend the third-seeded Monarchs (29-5), who were making their seventh straight finals appearance. Mater Dei beat Redondo Union to win the D-1 title in 2015, and downed Marymount the past two years in the championship round.
Both finalists, along with Marymount, qualified for the CIF State championship tournament, which begins Nov. 13 with Northern and Southern California Regional play. Regional semifinals are Nov. 16 and finals Nov. 19, followed by state finals on a date to be determined.
Mater Dei – which won the 2018 Open Division state title – is seeded third in this year’s Open Division SoCal Regional, behind Torrey Pines and Redondo Union, and ahead of Marymount. Mater Dei’s first round opponent is to be determined, while Marymount plays No. 5 Cathedral Catholic of San Diego.
Other divisions begin first round play Nov. 12, including the following matches:
Division II: No. 9 Bishop Montgomery vs. No. 8 Redwood.
Division IV: No. 2 St. Bonaventure vs. Chatsworth; No. 11 Sacred Heart vs. El Camino Real.
Division V: No. 8 St. Bernard vs. No. 9 Cornerstone Christian.