St. Monica Spikes Serra to Claim League Title

It's been a storybook season for the boys volleyball squad, and the Mariners know there are still a few exciting chapters left to write.

The team's primary goal at the start of the year was to capture the Camino Real League title, and it did just that Wednesday night with an emphatic 25-8, 25-8, 25-12 rout of Gardena Serra. St. Monica earned its first league title since 2008, when 's repeat bid. Ironically, coach was then the coach at St. Bernard. 

"It was tough to get motivated," Martinez said of Wednesday's road victory over the league's cellar-dweller. "There were only three people in the stands, and they were all St. Monica parents. Serra was on spring break."

Senior captain and outside hitter had 14 kills against the Cavaliers, raising his season total to 260.

St. Monica has two league matches left, but even if it loses both, it has enough of a cushion to remain in first place. Of course, Martinez expects his team to continue its roll. The Mariners have won 11 straight, including 10 best-of-five matches in a row. They haven't tasted defeat since a two-set loss to Harbor City Narbonne at the Venice Tournament on Mar. 19.

On Monday, the Mariners swept Cantwell Sacred Heart, 25-16, 25-16, 25-18, to clinch at least a share of the league crown. The Cardinals had taken St. Monica to five sets in the teams' previous encounter, and Martinez wanted a more convincing win at home. He got it.

"That was a big one!" said Martinez, whose team is ranked ninth in this week's CIF Southern Section Division 5 .

St. Monica (11-5-2 overall, 8-0 in league) wraps up the regular season at home against St. Paul on May 2 and at Mary Star of the Sea two nights later in San Pedro.

"The St. Paul match will be Senior Night, so the gym should be packed," Martinez said. "We want to close out the season strong and head into the playoffs with some momentum."