Alemany girls volleyball captures second straight CIF title over Oaks Christian
Alemany defeats Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany girls volleyball coach Morgan Wijay celebrates after defeating Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany defeats Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany defeats Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
London Wijay of Alemany passes the ball against Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany girls volleyball coach Morgan Wijay leads her team against Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
London Wijay of Alemany hits the ball against Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany defeats Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany girls volleyball coach Morgan Wijay celebrates with her team after defeating Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
London Wijay of Alemany looks on against Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hannah Brady of Oaks Christian passes the ball against Alemany in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany players celebrate as they defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 6, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Nicole Zake of Oaks Christian passes the ball against Alemany in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Makaila Atkins of Alemany passes the ball against Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hannah Brady of Oaks Christian passes the ball against Alemany in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany defeats Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany’s Gabi Polishuk passes the ball as they defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany fans cheer on their team as they defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany fans cheer on their team as they defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany volleyball players celebrate after defeating Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany volleyball players defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany fans cheer on their team as they defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany volleyball players celebrate after defeating Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany volleyball players defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany’s Gabi Polishuk passes the ball as they defeat Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 5, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany volleyball players celebrate after defeating Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 6, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Alemany volleyball players celebrate after defeating Oaks Christian in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship November 6, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
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WESTLAKE VILLAGE — Same team, same gym, same results. For the second straight year, Alemany volleyball beat Oaks Christian for a CIF Southern Section title in four sets.
It’s almost becoming business as usual for the Warriors, who now are looking beyond the CIF-SS Division 5 championship, which they won 19-25, 25-12, 25-23, 25-13 Saturday night at Oaks Christian High.
They’re eyeing a state title; something that’s never been achieved in program history.
“We want to take it to the next level,” Alemany coach Morgan Wijay said. “We think this is a great opportunity this season to capitalize on state.” Alemany’s crowd talked the talk and the team backed it up in a boisterous Oaks Christian gym.
A bus full of students even had a themed student section camouflage, since Alemany was hunting Lions, so to speak.
Signs for nearly every player on both the Alemany and Oaks Christian sides dotted the crowd, giving the players something to feed off of.
“If I could have this atmosphere every single day, I would,” Havyn Rolle, who had 13 kills for Alemany, said. “It pushes me to my max and allows me to do what I do.”
London Wijay aces a serve to make Alemany CIF-SS champions for the second year in a row. The Warriors win the fourth set, 25-13. pic.twitter.com/4fMwxpp1Bb
Oaks Christian (28-4) won the first set, getting an early jump with an opening rotation that was different from what Alemany (25-6) had game planned for.
The Lions had major contributions on offense from Nicole Zake and Manaiah Ogbechie all evening, but multiple players chipped in key blocks and kills when they were needed most.
They also had to adjust to London Wijay, Alemany’s offensive leader with 20 kills and five aces, including the match-winning ace. Although her attack and back row defense, which got her 11 digs on Saturday, are her bread and butter, she was focused on blocking.
“Blocking isn’t my strong suit, but I was practicing it literally the whole week,” Wijay, who went up for 6 blocks, said. “I just want to win. Anything that requires that, I can do.”
Oaks Christian tore through Marmonte League play this season, going 10-0 without dropping a set. Although they lost Saturday’s rematch of last season’s CIF-SS Division 4 championship, the Lions’ season isn’t finished yet. Along with Alemany, they’ll move on to the CIF State playoffs.
“We’re not probably ready to talk about it yet,” Lions coach Julie Bennett said, “but we’ve gotta reflect on this one but come Tuesday, we have to be ready to flip a switch.”
