Oaks Christian girls volleyball loses to Redondo in Division 2 quarterfinals

WESTLAKE VILLAGE – The Oaks Christian girls volleyball team captured the Marmonte League title while not dropping a league contest for the third straight season, but it also saw its CIF Southern Section title hopes dashed for the third straight year.

The Lions lost to visiting Redondo in four sets, 25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, in the Division 2 quarterfinals on Wednesday night.

The Sea Hawks (24-11) will be home Saturday to take on Orange Lutheran in the semifinals.

Oaks Christian (21-9) qualified for the CIF state tournament, which begins Nov. 7.

“We’ve been in this position now the last few years, where we have a heartbreaking loss and then two days later have to come back and play in state,” said Lions coach Julie Bennett. “And so, hey, we’re not done yet. We have time to recover and reflect and learn and then grow from here.”

Oaks Christian came up short largely because Redondo was able to limit the Lions offensively. Sadie Kocur (14 kills) and Manaia Ogbechie (12 kills) were solid for Oaks Christian, but the Sea Hawks never allowed the Lions to gain momentum for any length of time.

“They’re a solid passing and defending team,” Bennett said, “so a lot of stuff is coming back over that we were hoping we would score on.”

Oaks Christian managed to keep the game close because of its defense. Ogbechie, a junior, and her sister, sophomore Masina, as well as Brooke Gilmour led the way at the net.

Redondo’s front line was anchored by a pair of sisters, Abby and Ella Zimmerman, who helped negate the advantage the Lions usually had this season against their opponents.

“We rely on our blocking to do a lot, that’s for sure,” said Bennett. “And we have some good size at the net. I don’t think we’ve seen a team quite as big and equally matched as us.

“And I think they were smarter tonight and powering through our block a little bit more than we’re comfortable with.”

Redondo won the first set 25-21, outlasting an impressive comeback attempt that started with Oaks Christian trailing by 10 points.

The Sea Hawks pushed their lead to 2-0, using a strong finish to pull away as they scored six of the final eight points to take the second set 25-19.

In game three the Lions returned the favor, winning 25-19. Manaia Ogbechie recorded the last two points of the set, following an impressive touch shot with a powerful kill to make it 2-1.

Oaks Christian opened the fourth set with an ace from Maggie Rhew but once again found scoring points to be an uphill fight.

Oaks Christian’s Hannah Brady made a play worthy of a highlight reel on one of the longest volleys of the night during the fourth set. She hustled out of bounds to send an errant pass back the other way. The senior’s desperation punch of the ball sent it back over the net, finding the floor and sending the spectators into a frenzy with the set tied at 12.

Redondo would ultimately prevail 25-21 in a set that neither side ever led by more than four points.