In the CIF Open Division Championship at Southwestern Community College, the girls varsity volleyball team (28-8) faced Cathedral Catholic on Saturday, ultimately falling in a straight three-set loss, with set scores of 18-25, 23-25 and 15-25.
The team has faced Cathedral Catholic in CIF playoffs for several years, with this being their fourth consecutive loss to the team.
Despite the tough loss, the Falcons showed resilience, fighting hard in each set and demonstrating the growth and potential in their young roster, with four sophomores and two freshmen.
Jaycee Mack (10) led the offensive effort with a team-high of 14 kills, despite a strong defense from the Dons.
“We knew it would be a tough game going in,” Mack said. “Cathedral is a strong team, but we kept pushing and supporting each other throughout the game.”
Mack’s performance, with a 32.6% kill rate on 43 attempts, highlighted her role as an emerging leader on the team.
Danica Nordlicht (11) also delivered a solid performance, tallying six kills with an .462 hitting percentage.
“We kept up our energy and didn’t let the score discourage us,” Nordlicht said. “Every player put in their best effort, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Emery Gonzales (10) contributed efficiently with two kills on three attempts, registering a 66.7% kill percentage.
“The game didn’t go our way, but making it into CIF’s felt good,” Gonzales said. “We have a lot of amazing players, and this match showed us where we can grow. I’m confident we’re going to come back stronger next season.”
The Falcons struggled with consistency throughout the match, managing 31 kills across three sets with a .127 team hitting percentage, and 18 attacking errors on 102 attempts. Marina Vosloo (11) and Lilia Decker (10) added support on the attack, with Vosloo achieving a kill percentage of 28.6% and Decker contributing four kills.
Girls varsity volleyball head coach Brennan Dean praised the team’s efforts, acknowledging the challenges they faced.
“Cathedral’s defense is top notch, but our players really gave it their all,” Dean said. “Jaycee was confident, and showed a lot of passion throughout the entire game. Cathedral is a tough one every year, but I’m proud of how the team stayed motivated and supported each other.”
Dean sees a bright future for the Falcons, emphasizing the potential of his team.
“We’ve got a solid foundation, and with the experience these players have gained, I’m excited to see what we can accomplish next year,” Dean said.
The experience gained from competing against such a strong team will serve as valuable preparation for next season. With key players like Mack, Gonzales and Nordlicht returning, the Falcons are poised to come back even stronger.
“We all wanted this win, but I think we can still be proud of our effort,” Mack said. “We fought hard and kept our spirits up. It’s tough to end the season on a loss, but we’re proud of how far we’ve come.”
