Newbury Park, Rio Mesa reach CIF-SS girls volleyball finals

For the second time in three seasons, the Newbury Park High girls volleyball team will play for a section title. The Panthers went wire to wire in each set to sweep host Valley Christian, 25-23, 25-18, 25-22, on Saturday, Oct. 31, to advance to the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship match next weekend. Newbury Park will face Corona del Mar in the final, either next Friday or Saturday.“They know how to win,” Newbury Park head coach Chris Forrest said of his team. “They find ways to come out on top.”The Panthers had 12 total aces as a team, keeping Valley Christian out of system and the ball away from its big arm on the outside. It was the second time Newbury Park (34-9) faced Valley Christian this season, having dropped a disappointing two-setter in tournament play in early September — a match Forrest called the Panthers’ worst performance all season.“I think they were expecting that team to come in,” Forrest said. “They weren’t prepared for the amount of weapons we had.”Senior opposite Charley Knupp led the way with 15 kills, three solo blocks and two aces. Setter Keira Overbeck had seven kills, five of which came in the match-deciding third set. Outside hitter Laney Knopp had eight kills, three aces and a block and Emmery Reynolds added six kills.Division 8In a four-set victory on the road, Rio Mesa beat Geffen Academy, 25-23, 25-13, 22-25, 25-13, to advance to the CIF-SS Division 8 title match — the first championship appearance in program history. “Making some history,” Rio Mesa head coach Jeff Holloway said. Rio Mesa (16-16) will host San Gabriel Academy (24-8) for the Division 8 title on Thursday at home. The Spartans dropped the third set, which was the team’s first set loss in four playoff matches this season, but rallied to win the fourth set by 12 points. “They are so supportive of each other,” Holloway said of his team. “It makes such a gigantic difference when things get tough.”Middle blockers Aliyah Adams (11 kills, three blocks) and Sammy Alvarez (10 kills, two aces) led the way for Rio Mesa. Sydney Nunnery had nine kills and four aces, Kyla Sahagun finished with 20 digs, and setter Sophia Turner amassed 34 assists, three aces and 14 digs.“For the whole season, our two middles have been our bread and butter,” Holloway said. “We just keep coming at you in the middle.”Division 1Oaks Christian dropped its final match in pool play of the Division 1 bracket to MaxPreps No. 1-ranked Mater Dei in straight sets, 25-22, 25-16, 25-19. “They’re loaded in every position and are in system a lot with a fast offense,” Oaks Christian head coach Julie Bennett said of Mater Dei.Elyse Wong and Malie Ogbechie each had nine kills and Tristyn Bailey added eight kills for the Lions.Oaks Christian (26-4) will have to wait until Nov. 8 to find out if or where they will be seeded in the CIF-State tournament. “I know my girls are honored and excited about the opportunity to compete in D-1, and pool play. It was great to see us battle the best and hoping for a great run,” Bennett said,Dominic Massimino covers volleyball for The Star. He can be reached at dominic.massimino@vcstar.com. For more coverage, follow @vcsdominic on Twitter and Instagram.This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Newbury Park, Rio Mesa reach CIF-SS girls volleyball finals