St. Monica Academy girls’ volleyball player Turicchi earns All-CIF first-team nod

Karinna Turicchi provided plenty of talent for the St. Monica Academy girls volleyball team throughout the season.

Backed by stellar skills on offense and defense, the junior middle blocker helped the Crusaders win the International League championship and make an appearance in the postseason.

Turicchi averaged 10 kills and four blocks per match this past season en route to receiving All-CIF Southern Section Division VIII first-teams honors for the first time in her career.

The CIF Southern Section unveiled its selections across all nine divisions Monday and Turicchi was the lone local player to be bestowed with the prestigious honor.

St. Monica went 19-7, 8-0 in league. Fourth-seeded Santa Clarita Christian defeated host St. Monica, 25-16, 22-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-10, in a first-round playoff match.

“I’m very happy for Karinna and she definitely deserves the honor,” said St. Monica coach Darren Bradley, who led the Crusaders to a Division V-A title in 2015. “She more than held her own and she’s a legit hitter. She can put the ball straight down and she’s very good on the block.

“We haven’t had a player make All-CIF in the last couple of years and it will be great to have her back next season.”

Turicchi was the only junior to pick up the recognition in the division.

Oakwood’s Gia Frank was tabbed the division’s player of the year after helping Oakwood post a 25-15, 25-18, 20-25, 25-13 victory against Trinity Classical Academy in the division championship match.