Sierra Canyon, last year’s Southern Section Division 4 champion, moved up to Division 3 and won a CIFSS title over the weekend. 

Last year, the Trailblazers lost in the second round of the state tournament to Cathedral Catholic, so they’re looking to get some redemption this year as the No. 1 seed. 

Our pick for the best first-round matchup from SoCal is an under-seeded No. 9 Culver City taking on No. 8 Exeter, the Central Section Division 2 champ.

On the NorCal side of the bracket, Carlmont earned the No. 1 seed with a 30-4 overall record and a Central Coast Section Division 1 title.

Watch the CIF State Championship matches, Dec. 1-2, live right here on FloVolleyball.

*Live coverage in SoCal available through Spectrum.

SoCal Division 2 Teams

1.Sierra Canyon (33-7), Southern Section Division 3 Champion

2. La Salle (25-6), Southern Section Division 3 runner-up

3. Olympian (28-6), San Diego Section Open Division participant

4. Santa Fe Christian (25-11), San Diego Section Division 1 Champion

5. Sage Hill (24-9), Southern Section Division 3 semifinalist

6. Westridge (24-6), Southern Section Division 3 semifinalist

7. Del Norte (22-14), San Diego Section Division 1 runner-up

8. Exeter (28-12), Central Section Division 2 Champion

9. Culver City (30-1), Southern Section Division 4 Champion

10. Santa Monica (18-7), Southern Section Division 4 runner-up

11. Cypress (18-6), Southern Section Division 4 semifinalist

12. Taft (32-10), Los Angeles City Section Open Division 3rd place finisher

13. Crean Lutheran (21-8), Southern Section Division 3 semifinalist

14. Eagle Rock (31-9), Los Angeles City Section Open Division 4th place finisher

15. Bakersfield Christian (30-9), Central Section Division 2 runner-up

16. Carson (24-7), Los Angeles City Section Open Division Consolation Champion 

SoCal Division 2 Players to Watch

(In alphabetical order)

Corinne Acosta | Junior | Outside Hitter | Exeter

Despite standing only 5-foot-6, Acosta leads her team in kills, aces, and digs. The junior captain helped lead her team to a Central Section D2 title.  

May Pertofsky | Junior | Outside Hitter | Sierra Canyon

An all-around contributor for Sierra Canyon, Michigan recruit Pertofsky has recorded 508 kills at a rate of 4.9 per set with a hitting percentage of .355, as well as 33 aces and 147 digs so far this season.

Abby Phillips | Junior | Outside Hitter | Santa Fe Christian

Phillips stepped up after the graduation of 2017 top recruit Lexi Sun to become Santa Fe Christian’s kills leader. So far this season, the junior has recorded 287 kills (3.3/set), hitting .228 with 31 aces and 116 digs. 

Taylor Simpson | Freshman | Setter | Sierra Canyon

Freshman setter Simpson has guided her Sierra Canyon squad to a team hitting percentage of .335, and she’s added 56 aces and 147 digs to her individual stat line.

Jessica Stewart | Senior | Setter/Opposite | Culver City

In matches through October 23, Stewart has recorded 2.7 kills per set with a .389 hitting percentage, in addition to 38 aces and 170 assists.  

Brianna Torres | Senior | Outside Hitter | Olympian

Senior captain Torres, a 5-8 outside hitter, is her team’s offensive leader with 116 kills, hitting .206 and adding 107 digs.

NorCal Division 2 Teams

1. Carlmont (30-4), Central Coast Section Division 1 champion

2. Notre Dame (30-14), Central Coast Section Division 4 champions

3. Sacred Heart Prep (25-8), Central Coast Section Division 4 runner-up 

4. Granite Bay (28-13), Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 quarterfinalist 

5. Foothill (19-13), North Coast Section Division 1 quarterfinalist 

6. Nevada Union (33-13), Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 runner-up 

7. St. Mary's (26-11), Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 semifinalist 

8. Lowell (28-9), San Francisco AAA champion

9. University (23-8), North Coast Section Division 5 champion

10. San Ramon Valley (22-12), North Coast Section Division 1 quarterfinalist 

11. Chico (17-11), Northern Section Division 2 champion

12. Pleasant Valley (27-5), Northern Section Division 2 runner-up 

13. Moreau Catholic (21-8), North Coast Section Division 4 semifinalist 

14. Del Oro (18-14), Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 semifinalist 

15. Rocklin (17-17), Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 quarterfinalist

16. Analy /(21-8), North Coast Section Division 3 quarterfinalist 

NorCal Division 2 Players to Watch

(In alphabetical order)

Kendall Peters | Junior | Outside Hitter | Notre Dame

Peters leads Notre Dame with 436 kills on the season (3.8 kills/set, .246), and she’s second behind only libero Katherine Ho with 338 digs. Add to that a team-high 58 aces and you’ve got a true all-around six-rotation contributor.

Jemima Ohwobete | Senior | Middle Blocker | Moreau Catholic

The 5-8 senior Ohwobete leads her team with 254 kills, hitting a blistering .407, in addition to being credited with 56 solo blocks on the season.

Cate Desler | Senior | Outside Hitter | Sacred Heart

Desler’s 532 kills on the season have come with only 91 errors to give her a fantastic .500 hitting percentage. Also a defensive contributor, Desler had 51 total blocks and 179 digs.

Haley Martella | Senior | Setter | Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart setter Haley Martella has quarterbacked her team to a .408 hitting percentage with her 732 assists, not to mention 132 digs and 31 aces. 

Addi Bangs | Senior | Libero | Del Oro

With 379 digs and 42 aces, senior libero Addi Bangs has led the Del Oro defense all season, helping her team reach the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 semifinals. 

State Finals Prediction

In the state final match I believe chalk holds and both number No. 1s make it to the final. Between Carlmont and Sierra Canyon, I’ll take the SoCal squad in four sets.