Since transferring from the Sunshine League to the Mission League in 2014, solely as soon as has the Marymount women’ volleyball crew didn’t earn a minimum of a share of first place. That occurred final yr when Sierra Canyon beat the Sailors twice on its method to going undefeated.
Decided to get a bit of the pie this fall, Marymount hosted its rival Tuesday night time in a battle between two top-five-ranked groups in California, and the Trailblazers rallied to win the ultimate two units to prevail, 20-25, 25-20, 20-25, 28-26, 15-12.
Hanna McGinest led the way in which with 16 kills and 5 digs, Florida A&M-bound Brandi Boston added 9 kills and eight blocks, Deavan Antoine-Dillon had six kills and 7 blocks, and College of San Diego commit Lauren Lynch had 14 digs for the Trailblazers (19-2, 3-0) within the first of two league matchups.
Since becoming a member of the league in 2022, Sierra Canyon has received the title twice, sharing it with Marymount the primary yr and profitable it outright final fall. Each groups had been coming off of robust showings on the Durango Fall Traditional in Las Vegas, the place Sierra Canyon took fifth within the championship bracket and Marymount misplaced by two factors within the decisive third set within the finals in opposition to Mater Dei.
Pacing the Sailors (20-4, 3-1) had been its three Division I commits, all juniors — outdoors hitter Sammy Destler (Washington), Elle Vandeweghe (Southern Methodist) and setter Olivia Penske (Georgetown). It was a bodily confrontation between the athletes on either side of the online, but additionally a battle of wits between two of the Southland’s most extremely revered coaches in Sierra Canyon’s Stefanie Wigfall and Marymount’s Cari Klein.
Marymount hitter Makenna Barnes ideas the ball over Sierra Canyon blocker Davan Antoine-Dillon within the fifth set.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Instances)
“We’re really young and still trying to figure out the game,” Wigfall mentioned. “The game isn’t going to slow down, it’s only going to speed up so we have to learn to play at that pace. We both expect it’s going to be a tough match every time we meet, but there’s no better way to prepare for the playoffs. League will be decided by which team can continue to get better.”
The Trailblazers fought off a match level earlier than pulling out the fourth set to degree it at two units apiece and reeled off three factors in a row after the fifth set was deadlocked 12-12. The groups face off once more Oct. 10 in Chatsworth.
