The Sweetwater High School varsity tournament, played Sept. 1-2 in National City, helped jump-start the 2017 girls volleyball season locally. Tournament director (and SuHi coach Erik Hernandez) reported a total of 36 teams participated this year.
South County teams competing in the Gold Division included Otay Ranch, High Tech High Chula Vista, Mater Dei Catholic and Sweetwater.
San Marcos defeated Mission Hills to win the Gold Division championship. In the semifinals, San Marcos defeated the Chula Vista Learning Community Center while Mission Hills defeated San Pasqual.
Hilltop defeated Liberty Charter to win the Silver Division championship while Southwest defeated Mountain Empire to win the Bronze Division title.
Fast forward one month into the season and the Chula Vista Lady Spartans (14-3) are on top of the South Bay League standings with a 7-1 record. Mar Vista (12-6) is in second place in the league standings with a 6-1 record.
The South Bay League is rounded out this season by Hilltop (5-2 in league play, 13-8 overall), Castle Park (2-4-1 in league play, 6-11-1 overall), San Ysidro (2-6-1 in league play, 4-14-1 overall), Sweetwater (2-6 in league play, 5-20 overall) and Southwest (1-5 in league play, 6-12 overall).
This year’s Mesa League lineup includes Bonita Vista, Eastlake, Mater Dei Catholic Montgomery, Olympian and Otay Ranch high schools.
Olympian and Eastlake are 4-0-1 in league play, tied for first place in the standings. Otay Ranch is 3-2, followed by Bonita Vista (1-3-1), Mater Dei Catholic (1-4) and Montgomery (0-4-1).
Olympian is 18-4-2 on the season while Eastlake is 15-7-1 and Otay Ranch is 12-8. Mater Dei Catholic is 11-9 overall while Montgomery is 6-8-1 and Bonita Vista is 3-11-1.
Olympian defeated host Otay Ranch by scores of 25-22, 25-17, 25-14 on Wednesday, Oct. 11, to remain on top of the league standings.
Eastlake swept visiting Mater Dei Catholic on Wednesday to keep pace.
League play in both Metro Conference leagues wraps up Oct. 27.
