St. Monica Academy volleyball’s Therese Boles gets shot at redemption

Before she practiced Thursday afternoon for one of the last times in her four-season high school career, Therese Boles took time to reflect back to the beginning, when she was a freshman playing for the upstart St. Monica Academy girls’ volleyball team.

The Crusaders broke through in the 2012 campaign and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division V-A championship match. Unfortunately for Boles, the Crusaders ultimately fell in five hard-fought games to Orangewood Academy at Cypress College. With most of the team intact, Boles figured the Crusaders would march back to the finals again.

“It’s just something you think back to because that was such an amazing season,” said Boles, one of three holdovers from the 2012 team. “You are a freshman and you think you’ll get back again.”

The trip back, however, took longer than expected.

It didn’t happen during her sophomore and junior seasons. But, backed by her powerful left-handed swing, Boles and St. Monica have been presented a shot at redemption in their quest to win the program’s first CIF championship.

Third-seeded St. Monica (23-4-2) will meet top-seeded Tarbut V’Torah in the Division V-A championship match at 8 p.m. Saturday at Rio Hondo College in Whittier.

In reaching the title match, Boles is aware of one key difference between the 2012 and 2015 team.

“We know how to finish off games, especially when they are close,” she said. “It was a dream come true to get to the finals three years ago. The time has moved so quickly and here we are with another chance. We want to make the most of this opportunity.”

Boles and the Crusaders have been dominant throughout the season. St. Monica won the International League championship before topping Newbury Park Adventist, Walnut Southlands Christian, Victorville University Prep and second-seeded Avalon to arrive at the title match. In their four playoff matches, the Crusaders have lost just one game.

Boles collected a team-high 17 kills to help St. Monica post a 25-23, 25-23, 25-10 semifinal win against host Avalon on Tuesday on scenic Catalina Island.

“We haven’t played a true home match in the playoffs,” said Boles, who has recorded 50 kills in the playoffs. “We were able to take the boat over to Catalina and we were able to relax and had some time to get ready.

“It’s things like that you will remember along the way. There’s always a lot of hype and excitement during the playoffs.”

Middle blocker Rose Goodwin and opposite hitter Michelle Hall also played on the 2012 squad.

Goodwin said Boles has brought stability to the Crusaders, who have won 56 league matches in a row.

“The players are always looking up to her,” said Goodwin, who had eight kills and two blocks against Avalon. “Therese knows a lot about the sport and she can pound the ball.

“Her hitting is probably her strongest part of her game, but she can set and pass well, too.

“It’s a pretty different team that we have now compared to the one three years ago. We have a lot of players who do different things well.”

St. Monica Coach Darren Bradley, who guided the Crusaders to the title match in 2012, said Boles brings instant respectability to the program.

“She’s a tough competitor and it rubs off on the rest of the team,” said Bradley, who also serves as the school’s athletic director. “I taught physical education when she was in seventh grade and I remember the kids were playing dodge ball and she more than held her own. She could catch the balls being thrown her way and you could see the great hand-eye coordination she had back then. It’s still there. She’s highly intelligent and she’s got that great work ethic. She can absorb information about volleyball just like that.”

St. Monica will look to complete its journey against Tarbut V’Torah, which won the Express League championship.

Boles and the Crusaders are ready to answer the bell and successfully conclude a journey four years in the making.

“It would be great to win a championship for our school,” Boles said. “We’re all upbeat and it’s been so much fun just to get back here.”

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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com

Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich