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Centaurs’ Megan Yoon keeps the play alive against Windward.
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Lindsay Tanita catches up to an attempted Windward School spike in CIF semifinals’ loss. Photos, George Laase.
After all the long hours and hard work they put into their summer practices, going undefeated in Ocean League play, receiving the top-seed in the CIF Southern Section’s Division 3AA and making it to the semi-finals, Culver City High School’s girls volleyball team hopes to have its season extended.
Our Lady Centaurs, not ready to rest on this season’s accomplishments, hope their efforts will be rewarded with an invite to the State Tournament.
The Wait Continues
If they receive an invitation to this elite tournament, the Centaurs (25-7) will be led by their co-captains, senior Monica Patton and junior Taylor Selfridge, along with powerful outside hitter Cassidy Paperny and senior middle-blocker McKenna Maxwell.
Self-Serving
Many players have serves that are hard to handle. As a team, the Centaurs are averaging four aces per set. Juniors Selfridge and Megan Yoon lead the team with 32 service aces apiece, followed by Armani Moultrie with 26, Patten 24, Katrina McCoy 23, and Maxwell with 21 service aces.
Power Points
The team’s main attackers are Paperny spiking156 kills, Selfridge 132 winners, and Moultrie with 50 putaways.
Patton has been the team’s go-to setter throughout the season. She and has 390 assists.
Quick on Defense
On defense, the Centaurs are quick, in both their hands and footwork. They are extremely disciplined in execution of their assignments. The team’s talented blockers are junior Moultrie with 55 blocks and Maxwell with 50, along with Paperny’s 44 blocks and Adili Rokondja’s 40.
Digging Deeper
Team leaders in digging are Selfridge with 224 digs. Mina Grant, the team’s librero, has 211 and Lindsey Tanita, 146.
Rounding out the post-season squad are Krista Hernandez, Clair Miller, Deleany Melendez and Laura Hyslop and up from the JV squad are Kaelyn Gsellman and Veronica Scupine.
Head coach Joe Manzo and assistant coaches Richell Squires and Jeff Inada will have the team ready – if and when an invitation call arrives.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
