Culver spikers clawed by Wildcats

Photo credit. CHAMPIONS—Culver City Middle School Lady Panther volleyball team poses after winning its third consecutive conference championship. Bottow row (from left): Ellena Rodriquez, Alyssa Hernandez and Malea Stanton. Standing: Coach Tino Hernande

After sweeping its two home matches in early rounds of the CIF-Southern Section Division IIIAA playoffs, the Culver City High School girls’ volleyball team made the jaunt to Windward High School on Palms and Sawtelle and felt the thunder of its big hitters in a 3-0 loss that ousted the Centaurs from the postseason tournament.

The straight set win (25-20, 25-19, 25-22) over the top-seeded Centaurs was a plausible outcome, as the Wildcats 22-7, 6-2 in Alpha League were ranked 87th in the State by MaxPreps. Culver (25-7, 8-0 in league) was rated 215. Urged on by a large contingent of Culver City partisans in the 750 seat gym, the Centaurs kept the games close.

After receiving a first round bye, the Culver City girls’ volleyball team swept Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World (26-24, 25-15, 25-22) and Moreno Valley View (25-19, 25-13, 25-18) in the second and third rounds at Culver High.

Rim of the World won the IIIAA crown last season.

Players on the Ocean League champions are Mina Grant, Katrina McCoy, Laura Hyslop, Adili Rikondja, McKenna Maxwell, Taylor Burks, Taylor Selfridge, Claire Miller, Megan Yoon, Armani Moultrie, Patton, Lindsey Tanita, and Cassidy Paperny, Krista Hernandez. Head coach is Joe Manzo.