PREP GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: La Costa Canyon one win away from state title game

By TERRY MONAHAN - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:40 PM PST ∞

La Costa Canyon volleyball players celebrate their win over Mira Costa in the state playoffs on Saturday night. Photo Hayne Palmour IV - Staff photographer.

LA COSTA ---- As a junior varsity volleyball player two years ago, Lydia Rudnick sat in the stands, just watching.

Katie Fuller was a sophomore starter on the La Costa Canyon High varsity that night and felt the pain of the worst moment in the program's history.

Despite winning six consecutive CIF San Diego Section Division I titles, losing to eventual CIF state Division I champion Los Alamitos in 2006, on the Mavericks' floor, was a painful experience neither senior wanted to feel again.

Rudnick and Fuller, along with their teammates, will get a chance to rectify that forgettable moment thanks to a 25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24 victory over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in the regional semifinals at home Saturday night.

The Mavericks' eighth straight victory sets up another shot at earning their first berth in the state finals when second-seeded La Costa Canyon (35-1) travels to top-seeded Santa Margarita, a 25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20 winner Saturday over Clovis West.

"I haven't forgotten that moment two years ago, not at all,'' said Fuller, who had 13 kills and three blocks. "To be back in the same position two years later is a great feeling.

"I still think about that Los Al match. That feeling kind of came back a few times in this match. I didn't like it the first time. I certainly don't ever want to feel that again.''

Santa Margarita (27-7) is the only team to beat the Mavericks this year, downing them in the Redondo Power Classic.

The Mavs, who beat Mira Costa in four games in the finals of the California Challenge in October, were able to keep the Mustangs (28-5) from any long runs after taking the lead. Mira Costa had one five-point run, and that was it.

In the third game, La Costa Canyon lost the lead at 11-10 and finally regained it at 19-18 to go ahead two games to one.

In the final game, Mira Costa took the lead at 5-4 and held it until a Kendall Polan block, one of her six in the match, put the Mavs ahead 19-18.

The lead changed hands three more times ---- there were seven in that game alone ---- before a kill by junior Natalie Hagglund put LCC ahead 25-24 and Hannah Townsend's ace, the 12th of the night for the hosts, clinched another shot at the regional final.

"I like their style, it reminds me of playing on the beach,'' said Mira Costa coach Lisa Arce-Zimmerman. "They're very relaxed out there.

"It's tough to find a weakness in them. They are very steady all the time and they never get rattled.

"They truly do play the game with one thought in mind ---- they refuse to lose.''

Mira Costa was led by 6-foot-3 junior Falyn Fonoimoana with 19 kills. Emma White was next with eight kills and Dallas Dodd had seven.

In addition to Fuller, the Mavericks got 17 kills from Rudnick, who is playing her best ball of the season. Natalie Loos added six kills and four blocks and Hagglund had six kills and a block.

"This was not going to be our last match,'' Rudnick said. "And we weren't going to lose in our last home match ever for the seniors.''

One sour moment for the Mavericks came in the first game when senior libero Nikki Chu dislocated the same shoulder she had surgery on while diving for a ball. She is sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com.

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