JSerra girls volleyball tops rival Orange Lutheran to win its first CIF-SS title
JSerra’s confidence shows as its sweeps the Division 2 final and earns the program’s first CIF-SS championship.
JSerra’s girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s volleyball girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s volleyball girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s Payton Mossbarger (5) and JSerra’s head coach Mike Murphy hold the Division 2 Championship trophy after a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s volleyball girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Westley Matavao (7) returns the ball during a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s volleyball girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after the final point of game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s Helen Beary (16) and Tatum Johnson (3) block the hit of Orange Lutheran’s Maylynn Mitchell (11) during a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s girls celebrate a point during a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Maylynn Mitchell (11) battles JSerra’s Katherine Nowak (8) and Emma Champagne (19) during a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s Emma Champagne (19) and Charlotte Nowak (13) deny Orange Lutheran’s Westley Matavao (7) during a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s Reese Brown (10) and Payton Mossbarger (5) do a victory dance after the JSerra’s girls volleyball team won the Division 2 Finals in a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Jayden Santos (44) and Adisyn Tognazzini (1) watch as their teammates receive their second-place patches a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s volleyball girls volleyball team celebrates their Division 2 Finals victory after the final point of game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s volleyball girls volleyball team walks off the court after their Division 2 Finals victory in a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s head coach Henry Valiente reacts to an official’s call against his team during a game between JSerra and Orange Lutheran in the CIF-SS Division 2 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College. on November 4, 2023.
(Photo by Michael Goulding/Contributing Photographer)
NORWALK — It had been a long time coming for the JSerra girls volleyball team, and when the Lions finally won their first CIF Southern Section championship Saturday it wasn’t a surprise.
The Lions swept Trinity League rival Orange Lutheran 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 at Cerritos College in the Division 2 final.
JSerra coach Mike Murphy, who has been at the helm since 2013, expected his team to take care of business Saturday.
“We’ve won 13 of our last 14 matches. We’re just on fire right now,” Murphy said. “We came in the match full of confidence and there was a mutual feeling among the girls that it was just business and time to do it for the school. I’m so happy for JSerra right now.”
This was the third time JSerra (30-10) and Orange Lutheran (26-14) faced each other this season. They split the first two meetings.
Tatum Johnson collected a team-high 10 kills for the Lions.
Johnson and her teammates sought redemption after losing to the Lancers in their last match.
“We were so ready to come out here and play confidently, and show everything we’ve learned over the season,” Johnson said.
Reese Brown finished with nine kills, Emma Champagne had eight kills and Charlotte Nowak added seven kills.
After narrowly taking the first set, the Lions took a 24-20 lead in the second set but were met with fierce resistance from Orange Lutheran. The Lancers fought off three set-point chances before finally dropping the set on Brown’s set-clinching point.
“I took two timeouts and basically told them we have to win this set,” Murphy said, “they’re not going to give it to you. But we can do it.”
Orange Lutheran coach Henry Valiente expected his team to battle back despite facing a deficit.
“We have that fighter’s mentality,” he said. “We knew for a fact that we could string these points together because we compete for every point.”
Freshman outside hitter Westley Matavao had a match-high 17 kills for the Lancers.
Murphy tried his best to contain Matavao’s impact on the match.
“We knew their outside (Matavao) was their go-to girl, so we knew we didn’t have to stop her all the time, just slow her down,” Murphy said. “I think our liberos just sat in that pocket cross-court and had some amazing digs.”
Valiente was disappointed with the result but is looking forward to the Lancers competing for another championship in the regional playoffs.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to go to state.” Valiente said.
