Five years ago, during the process of being assigned to his alma mater in Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, girls’ volleyball coach Cam Green was asked a simple question.
“What do you see in the future?”
“I want to put up some banners,” Green replied at the time.
Saturday comes with his best chance of doing so, as he leads the 36-3 Mustang to the Division 1 CIF Southern Division Championship at Cerritos College. Green said they haven’t given up their spot at the top of the division since the season began, they’ve even been dating until spring, and his players have called the year “ring season.”
Not so fast.
A seemingly unstoppable force meets an immobile body at Chatsworth Sierra Canyon, which has been gaining strength as the season goes on and coming out with a stinging five-set win over L.A. Marymount in the last game of pool play.
“I think it was important that we made a statement,” Chatsworth Sierra Canyon coach Stephanie Wigfall said. “We will play good teams strongly, we will play well with them, and we will not back down.”
Curious to know what high octane crime looks like at the high school level? Swing by Cerritos College on Saturday, where the Trailblazers will display 6-foot-4 Pittsburgh Olivia Babcock commits, 6-foot-1 Cornell commits Jaida Sione and 6-foot-2 Boston College commits Danica Rach.
Meanwhile, the about 5-foot-11 Mustang Charlie Foerbringer—daughter of former beach volleyball Olympian Matt Feuerbringer—is built and pegged to the 5-foot-10 outside of Drew Wright, who kills from a variety of angles.
That match would steal the spotlight – but the Division 2 tournament between Aliso Niguel and Festa Morita is just as bewildering.
After strong programs at Studio City Harvard-Westlake and Redondo Union in the arc were canceled, the Wolverines returned to the D2 final for the second year in a row. They will face Vista Murrieta, who is shining in the Southwest League after a tough early season schedule.
Claire Little, a 6-foot-2 outdoor hitter who has been committed to BYU since the eighth grade, will be looking to finalize an incredible career with the Broncos.
Meanwhile, for Aliso Nigel, the relationships run deep. They boast not one but two sets of sisters Massey Smith and Madison Smith and six-foot twins Riley Barr and Ryan Barr as well as coach Rachel Whiting’s daughter, Danette being the captain of the team at the digs.
“We are a happy family,” said coach Whiting.
The Aliso Niguel – Vista Morita match will be held on Saturday afternoon at Cerritos College. Mira Costa and Sierra Canyon play at 7:30 pm