Three locals net All-CIF recognition in girls’ volleyball
Success was spread around during the 2016 girls’ volleyball season.
Along with substantial CIF Southern Section playoff runs, there were also plenty of league accolades and individual accomplishments for area programs and players.
In helping their teams achieve success, three area players were selected as All-CIF first-team selections when the honorees for all 10 divisions were released Monday afternoon by the CIF office.
Earning recognition in the top division, Division I, was Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior outside hitter Kayle Lund, while Burroughs High junior outside hitter Marin Grote of Burroughs High was honored in Division III and senior middle blocker Ava Midkiff made the team in Division VIII.
Lund, who is headed to the University of Pittsburgh, proved to me a dominant force for Flintridge Sacred Heart in her final season. The senior had an area-best 555 kills to go along with 348 digs, 251 assists, 81 aces and 38 blocks.
The Tologs (23-10) placed second in the Mission League and were defeated in the second round of the Division I playoffs by Lakewood.
“You just look at our division and the teams and there are just so many good players,” Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Ernest Banaag said. “I would say that most of those girls on that list in our division have signed to play in college. So to make it in that division is big.
“It’s just great for Kayla to earn All-CIF in her last season. I just look at some of the past tapes of her from years ago and the amount she has improved is just amazing. She is just a great player.”
Burroughs also enjoyed a good run in the playoffs after placing second in the Pacific League behind Arcadia. The Indians fell in the quarterfinals to Santa Ana Foothill.
“We know a lot of our success was centered around Marin,” Burroughs Coach Edwin Real said. “She was our go-to player and she came through for us in just about every match that she played.
“She really deserved an honor like this because she really stands out. We moved up in divisions in the playoffs this year and Marin still stood out in the playoffs.”
Grote, who has committed to the University of Washington, was voted a tri-Pacific League Player of the Year. In the playoffs, the junior had 74 kills in three matches. In addition, Grote tallied 182 kills in 12 league contests.
As far as success in the playoffs, no area team advanced as far as Providence. The Pioneers (20-9) barely qualified to the postseason, tying for third place in the Liberty League and earning an automatic berth on a coin flip. But it was in the playoffs where the Pioneers shined, advancing to the semifinals for only the second time in program history, where they lost to Katella.
Providence also qualified for the state playoffs for the first time.
Midkiff, a first-team all-league selection, played a big part in the team’s success, tallying 237 kills, 73 blocks, 50 digs and 17 aces.
“It’s great recognition to be rewarded for all of her hard work and I know she’ll be honored with the All-CIF award,” Providence Coach James Jimenez said. “We haven’t had an All-CIF player in probably 10 years or so, so for her to be able to win it is a very big accomplishment. With Ava, it was always about the team and not her individual accomplishments. She knows without her teammates she wouldn’t have been able to win that honor.
“It also says a lot about our program and hopefully where we’re headed.”
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports
