El Toro Girls Volleyball Beats St. Anthony in CIF-SS Quarterfinals

El Toro girls volleyball recorded a 25-23, 25-17, 25-22 victory over fourth-seeded St. Anthony of Long Beach on Wednesday in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 quarterfinals. The win moves the Chargers to a 21-10 record on the season. St. Anthony drops to 20-15-1, ending its pursuit of a third section title.

Sophie Nigro distributed 40 assists for El Toro during the match. Lindsay Keith recorded 15 kills, while Elli Hirosumi added 11. Hirosumi also served four consecutive points in the first game, helping the team overcome a 19-14 deficit. St. Anthony relied on Brianna Mbire, who recorded 10 kills, and Brooke Jondle, who finished with six.

The first set required a late surge for the home team. El Toro trailed 19-14 before Nigro recorded a block and a kill to bring the score to 23-22. Jessa Jarrett then served an ace to close out the set. In the second game, the Chargers extended a 7-5 lead to a 19-11 advantage. Keith contributed four of the team’s final five points to secure the win.

The third set featured another rally for El Toro. The team fell behind 16-11 before senior Liz Njoroge recorded a kill and a block to reduce the deficit to 16-15. Down 18-15, Hirosumi initiated a five-point run with two kills. The score tied at 20 before Hirosumi’s kill moved the Chargers ahead 21-20. Ellie Tredwell’s block made it 22-21, and Sarah McCormick’s kill brought the score to 23-22. Keith finished the match with two kills.

Coach Gus Culver noted that the team started slowly from the service line. He stated that role players coming off the bench provided key points. Culver highlighted the team's balanced attack, noting that opponents must defend three hitters when the ball is passed. He said the victory builds confidence for the upcoming semifinal.

El Toro will travel to Liberty of Winchester on Saturday for the Division 5 semifinal. Liberty defeated top-seeded Marlborough of Los Angeles in the second round. Liberty also beat Canyon of Canyon Country in five games on Wednesday. The Chargers are seeking a return to the finals for the first time since 2022.

Njoroge finished the match with four kills and a team-high six blocks. She said the team benefits from facing adversity because it reveals how they fight out of difficult situations. She noted that the competition provided by St. Anthony helps the group realize what is required when execution falters.