Sierra Canyon misses Div. 1 championship game
By Jacob H. Pollon
The Sierra Canyon girls volleyball team finished 1-2 in the Division 1 pool-play playoffs after a humbling 25-15, 25-15, 25-20 setback against top-seeded Mater Dei of Santa Ana.
The Monarchs are the No. 1 team in the country.
The Trailblazers started the playoffs with a tough five-set setback against Mission League rival Marymount putting themselves in a hole. They rebounded with a five-set victory against Palos Verdes.
Sierra Canyon had won 18 consecutive best-of-five matches before the Marymount loss, including two against the Sailors and were 3-0 in matches that went the distance.
The Trailblazers are now 4-1 in five-set matches.
The team has been led by several seniors.
Boston College-bound Danica Rach, Hawaii-bound Maddie Way, George Washington-bound Taylor Treahy, Sade Ilawole, Long Beach Poly-transfer Halie McGinest and Lola Brown.
Lauren Lynch, a junior committed to San Diego has been excellent and freshman Hanna McGinest is a promising outside hitter.
Sierra Canyon now takes a week off before the state playoffs. The Trailblazers could be in the Open Division or more likely Division 1.