CifSS Girls Volleyball Playoff Recap (Regional Championship)

CifSS Girls Volleyball Playoff Recap

By The Lucas Salmaggi

 Division 1 CIF Girls Volleyball Regional Championship games, winners go on to face each other in State Championship.

Game I

Palos Verdes (22-8) @ Vista Murrieta (23-10)

This matchup is 100% turning out to be the most exciting matchup of the round with #2 in the bracket, Palos Verdes playing Vista Murrieta. I’ve analyzed both teams' regular season and based on that will make my predictions on what the score will look like, and my ones to watch players from both sides. I believe that PV will come out on top with the score being 3 Sets to 1. Vista Murrieta will win the first set but PV completely takes over and takes three straight. I also analyzed Vista Murrieta and Palos Verdes path to the the regional finals and with PV beating a tough #3 Huntington Beach 3-2 in the semis while Vista Murrieta not only shut out #5 Aliso Niguel 3-0 in the quarters, but upset #1 La Costa Canyon 3-0 in the semis, I still believe PV will get the win. Vista Murrieta not only went 10-0 in league this year, but they’re on a 12 game winning streak but I see it stopping here.  

Players to watch-Vista Murrieta

  •  6’3, OH, Claire Little (Class of 2023): 5.5 Kills per set with the second closest being Lauren Ly with only 1.8 Kills per set.  She has a total of 514 kills! Meanwhile, the second highest is 187. Also leads team in hitting percentage with .351 with the second closest being Lilliana Montes with .290

  • 5’9, OH, Lauren Ly (Class of 2023): Most receptions and aces on her team with 481 and 52, also leads the team in serving aces with .5  She also kinda bad too.

  • 6’4, MH, Lilliana Montes (Class of 2024) Leads team with 90 total blocks and has the second highest hitting percentage with .290%

Players to watch- Palos Verdes

  • 6’4 OH, Kaci Demaria (Class of 2025): Leads team in kills per set with 5. Hitting percentage with .373%, kills with 40, and receptions with 25.


Game II  

  St.Mary’s (27-9) @ Branson (22-10)

Another great matchup heading into a different Regional Finals game today is between #3 ranked St.Mary’s vs #5 Branson.  St.Mary’s is projected to win by at least two sets by most, obviously placing Branson as major underdogs.  Despite this, after thoroughly analyzing both teams' seasons I believe that Branson will come out on top.  St.Mary’s went undefeated in league with 10-0 record while also beating #2 Valley Christian in the semis in a tough matchup.  Branson had a pretty easier schedule heading into the finals with most of the teams being ranked outside the top 10, still sweeping ⅔ of them with 3-0’s.  Because of this I think they will keep their form and expose St.Mary’s fraudulent overrated squad.  Although it’s going to be a tough battle fought until the end with St.Mary’s going down 2-0 to start off but then coming back 2-2, Branson will end up winning 3-2.


Players to watch: Nobody, fairly disappointing match but excited to see the very young Branson team shine. 

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