HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Nordhoff Ousted in Semifinals

St. Anthony High of Long Beach proved Thursday that one big weapon can overcome an entire arsenal as the Saints swept Nordhoff, 15-9, 15-9, 15-10, in a Southern Section 2-A Division girls’ volleyball semifinal at Millikan High in Long Beach.

Maureen Cox, a senior middle blocker, was St. Anthony’s top gun, contributing 19 kills, three blocks and two aces to a one-sided victory.

“We didn’t think it would be this easy,” Cox said. “When we played Nordhoff in the semifinals of the Ventura tournament (in September), we barely won, 16-14.”

With the victory, the Saints--20-2 and seeded second in the playoffs--advance to Saturday’s 2-A final, marking Cox’s fourth consecutive trip to the championship match.

Unforced errors killed Nordhoff’s hopes of reaching its first final since 1986. The Rangers (15-2 and seeded sixth) made a total of 53 miscues in the match while the consistent Saints made just 18 errors.

Kortney Rogers paced Nordhoff’s attack with 14 kills and fellow middle blocker Alison Nofrey added 10, but it wasn’t enough.

For St. Anthony, Terri Cox, a sophomore, complemented sister Maureen with 12 kills.

The Rangers figure to be in the thick of the 2-A title chase again next year; only senior Jana Rigby is certain not to return.