Tologs taken down by Mustangs
MANHATTAN BEACH — All of the CIF and state championship banners on the wall didn’t intimidate the members of the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy volleyball team.
However, the Tologs found out quickly how good Mira Costa is and why it earned that plethora of titles.
“We came in with the mindset to not be intimidated,” said Sacred Heart senior middle blocker Mary Schroeder, whose team suffered a 25-6, 25-16, 25-11 road loss to third-seeded Mira Costa on Thursday night in CIF Southern Section Division 1-AA second-round match. “They have a good team.
“We are disappointed that we lost. It was a tough match, and it’s hard for our seniors because it’s their last game.”
The Mustangs (25-7) dispatched the Tologs (22-10) in 50 minutes, thanks in large part to outside hitter Falyn Fonoimoana. The 6-foot-3 Fonoimoana collected 16 kills for the Mustangs, who captured the Bay League title and are vying for their 16th CIF crown since 1972.
The Tologs, who finished second in the Mission League before opening the playoffs with a come-from-behind victory against Orange Lutheran on Tuesday, had no match for Fonoimoana.
“We knew who the ball would go to,” Sacred Heart Coach Shelli Orlandini said. “We got our hands on her and were able to dig her, but we couldn’t read her like we wanted.”
Mira Costa, which has won seven state and four national championships, saw the Tologs take a 3-1 lead in the first game. Then the Mustangs closed out with good defense and serving to set the tone for the rest of the match.
“We had to focus mainly on serving,” Mira Costa Coach Lisa Zimmerman said. “We were then able to get Falyn the ball.”
Sacred Heart played better in the second game. The Tologs closed to within 8-7, but the Mustangs used a 6-0 run to take a 14-7 lead.
An ace by Sacred Heart’s Jordan Terwilliger cut Mira Costa’s lead to 19-16, but the Mustangs ended the game with another 6-0 run.
Mira Costa used an 11-0 spurt to open up a 17-2 lead in the third game.
Sacred Heart received six kills from Schroeder and three kills and 11 digs from junior outside hitter Camille Coffey. Shelby Tom and Taylor Vail contributed eight and six digs, respectively, for the Tologs.
