Edison Upsets Top-Seeded Mater Dei

Huntington Beach Edison Coach Trent Jackson likened the Santa Ana Mater Dei girls’ volleyball team to the Soviet Union hockey team of 1980.

“They’re like the big red giants,” he said.

So his team had to take on the role of the U.S.

Inspired by a viewing of the movie “Miracle,” third-seeded Edison upset top-seeded Mater Dei, 25-23, 14-25, 25-15, 25-21, in the Southern Section Division II-AA final Saturday, one of eight finals at Cypress College.

It was the first section title for Edison, which last made it to the finals in 1984. Mater Dei was making its sixth consecutive appearance in a section final and had won three in a row.

“Being the first team from Edison to win was a big motivation for us,” said San Jose State-bound middle blocker Colleen Burke, who had 15 kills.

Mater Dei swept Edison in a nonleague match Oct. 30. Edison senior setter Kelly Keating did not play in that match, but had 23 assists Saturday.

Kelly Hyder had 10 kills and Kari Pestolesi and Ashley Collier each had eight for Edison. Mallorie Croal had 23 kills for Mater Dei.

Los Alamitos d. Anaheim Esperanza, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 25-15 -- Geena Urango had 14 kills, 15 blocks and four aces to lead the top-seeded Griffins in the Division I-AA championship match.

Los Alamitos (27-4) won its second title in three years and avenged a loss to Esperanza (28-5) in last year’s title match. Three of Esperanza’s losses have come against Los Alamitos.

Alex Filkins had 14 kills, Rachel Moss had 12 and Taylor Sell had 45 assists for Los Alamitos.

Ashley Engle had 16 kills and 12 digs for second-seeded Esperanza. Brittany Lowe had nine kills and 10 blocks and Christy Hudson had six blocks for the Aztecs.

South Torrance d. Santa Barbara San Marcos, 23-25, 25-21, 13-25, 25-15, 15-7 -- Annie Meyers had 21 kills and 10 digs, Lauren McLaughlin had 18 kills and 14 digs and Julie Wilson had nine blocks and six aces as the second-seeded Spartans (22-8) won the Division II-A title, their first title in five finals, over the fourth-seeded Royals (17-9).

“I can’t even explain how good it feels,” said senior setter Kacey Martinez, who had 50 assists.

-- Peter Yoon

Los Angeles Marymount d. L.A. Notre Dame Academy, 19-25, 11-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-9 -- Alex Ayers, a 6-foot freshman opposite hitter, had 27 kills and 17 digs to help the top-seeded Sailors win their fourth consecutive Division IV-AA title, turning back their Sunshine League rival.

Second-seeded Notre Dame Academy (23-7), which had endured three-game sweeps at the hands of the Sailors (30-8) in two league matches, was four points from victory in the third game, leading, 21-17. But Ayers had four kills near the end of the third game to rally the Sailors, who won a seesaw fourth game and then capitalized on frequent Regal hitting errors in the fifth game.

“This is so great and I’m so proud of my team,” said Marymount outside hitter Sue Carls, a four-time section champion who is bound for Duke. Carls finished with 12 kills, 25 digs and three aces, and Jamie Sabol had 12 blocks for Marymount.

The Regals were led by left-handed freshman middle blocker Bridget Hearst with 11 kills and senior outside hitter Taylor O’Brien with 10.

Santa Margarita d. Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World, 25-23, 28-26, 13-25, 25-16 -- Senior outside hitter Blair Socci had 14 kills, 26 digs and three aces and freshman setter Elizabeth Wildermuth had 38 assists and four aces for the second-seeded Eagles (22-13), who came from behind in each of the first two games to win their second consecutive Division III-AA championship.

-- Lauren Peterson