The following is an excerpt from The Del Mar Times – Solana Beach Sun – Carmel Valley News article, “Cathedral Catholic, La Jolla repeat in beach volleyball after both winning inaugural titles a year ago.”

No. 3 Ava Stoddard–Mia Compas clinches it for Cathedral over Torrey Pines in Div. I, while La Jolla rallies to win at both No. 1 and No. 5 to defeat La Costa Canyon in Div. II

The second one ended the same way the first one ended.

On May 7, 2022, in the inaugural San Diego Section championship matches for girls beach volleyball, Cathedral Catholic High as well as La Jolla captured titles at San Diego Mesa College.

This time, both Cathedral and La Jolla were again crowned champions.

Cathedral (11-1), the top seed in Division I, swept the three matches in the second round Saturday at Mesa College to defeat Torrey Pines 4-1.

In last year’s finals, Cathedral downed Torrey Pines 4-1 too.

No. 2 La Jolla managed to rally from the brink of defeat to claim back-to-back Division II titles with a 3-2 stunner over top-seeded La Costa Canyon.

Torrey Pines (13-1) split the first two matches to open the finals, but the Falcons nearly swept those two matches, which could have changed how the second round went.

“It was insane because we almost had to win all three matches in that second round,” said 5-foot-8 junior Ava Stoddard, who helped the Dons win the clinching match at No. 3 with partner Mia Compass. “We expected to lose at No. 1 without Julia (Blyashov), but we won anyway.

“Cathedral has a chance to win all of the volleyball titles this year.”

The Dons won the section and state titles in indoor volleyball and were crowned national champion.

Cathedral’s boys volleyball team is deep into the postseason too.

Blyashov was at nationals with her club team and skipped the finals.

Cathedral also got wins from Carly Hixson and Lauren Hansen at No. 1, Tehya Maeva and Maria Neves at No. 4 and Maya Evens and Gracen Daniels at No. 5.

Maeva and Neves were victorious in three sets for the Dons.

Continue reading the full article on The Del Mar Times – Solana Beach Sun – Carmel Valley News.