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Valhalla survives; Steele into quarters
- Updated: October 28, 2026
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Norsemen extend winning streak to nine; Cougars dominate opening round; Henry, Christian, Grossmont exit
By Ramon Scott
ECS staff writer
EL CAJON — Valhalla surrendered a two-set advantage Tuesday night, but the Grossmont Valley League champions recovered in time to keep their season alive.
The seventh-seeded Norsemen defeated No. 10 Canyon Crest Academy, 25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 15-10, in the first round of the CIF San Diego Section Division III playoffs.
That victory, combined with second-seeded Steele Canyon’s 25-10, 25-11, 25-13 sweep of No. 15 Rock Academy, created an all-East County quarterfinal Thursday at Steele Canyon.
Valhalla will bring a nine-match winning streak into the meeting. Steele Canyon has won three straight and enters at 23-8.
Norsemen answer in fifth
Valhalla appeared headed toward a routine sweep after taking the opening two sets, but Canyon Crest Academy extended the match by winning the third and fourth.
The Norsemen regained control in the deciding set and closed the match with a five-point victory.
Junior Audrey Reece delivered 21 kills and 32 digs, while senior Jordann Bollens matched her with 21 kills, adding 23 digs and seven aces.
Valhalla has won three five-set matches this season, including its regular-season finale against West Hills. The Norsemen’s nine-match winning streak began after a Sept. 28 victory over Monte Vista.
Steele Canyon leaves no doubt
Steele Canyon did not allow its opening-round opponent to reach 15 points in any set.
Junior Taylor Carpenter led the Cougars with 15 kills, five digs and three aces. Sophomore setter Natalia Santana distributed 18 assists and added eight digs and two aces.
The Cougars won the three sets by a combined 41 points.
Steele Canyon’s reward is a third meeting with Valhalla. The Cougars won both previous encounters, taking a two-set tournament match on Aug. 22 before sweeping the Norsemen 25-18, 28-26, 25-13 in a nonleague match Sept. 11.
Thursday’s match carries considerably higher stakes: the winner advances to the Division III semifinals.
Season ends abruptly for Patriots
East County’s two Division I entries were eliminated in straight sets.
Twelfth-seeded Christian fell at fifth-seeded Point Loma, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19.
The Patriots finished 11-18 after navigating one of the area’s more demanding schedules. Point Loma extended its winning streak to 11 matches and moved into the quarterfinals.
Seventh-seeded Patrick Henry also was swept at home, falling to No. 10 Classical Academy, 25-15, 25-13, 25-23.
The Patriots nearly extended the match in the third set but could not complete the comeback. Patrick Henry finished 23-11 after placing second in the City Eastern League.
Grossmont pushes Imperial early
Grossmont forced No. 6 Imperial beyond regulation in the opening set of their Division III match but could not sustain the challenge.
Imperial eliminated the 11th-seeded Foothillers, 29-27, 25-14, 25-19.
Grossmont concluded the season at 8-23. The Foothillers’ young lineup included sophomore Samantha Reid, junior Isabella Hayes and freshman Jayla Canon, giving the program several potential returning contributors.
Imperial advances to meet third-seeded Escondido Charter.
Escondido Charter advances
Pacific League champion Escondido Charter dispatched No. 14 Central, 25-15, 25-9, 25-11, in another Division III opener.
The third-seeded White Tigers extended their winning streak to seven matches and improved to 22-10.
Escondido Charter will host Imperial in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Monarchs fall after marathon battle
Monte Vista’s season ended in a five-set Division V thriller.
Twelfth-seeded Vincent Memorial outlasted the fifth-seeded Monarchs, 25-22, 20-25, 27-29, 25-23, 15-10, to advance into Thursday’s quarterfinal against No. 4 Liberty Charter.
The night’s most memorable sequence came late in the marathon third set.
Sophomore libero Kazue Glennon produced a playoff-caliber dig to keep Monte Vista alive at match point. Junior middle hitter Carmen Andrade then finished the extended rally with the kill that gave the Monarchs a 29-27 set victory.
Monte Vista carried that momentum into the fourth, but Vincent Memorial answered with a 25-23 win before controlling the deciding set.
The Monarchs finished 12-25 after reaching the postseason as the No. 5 seed.
Mount Miguel advances in five
Sixth-seeded Mount Miguel survived a five-set challenge from No. 11 Madison, 21-25, 25-13, 25-18, 17-25, 15-11.
The Matadors recovered from losing the opening set, took command in the second and third, then answered after Madison forced a deciding fifth.
Mount Miguel advances to visit third-seeded San Diego in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Around the county
Top-seeded Westview opened Division I with a 25-15, 25-17, 25-17 sweep of No. 16 Scripps Ranch.
Third-seeded Santa Fe Christian swept No. 14 Rancho Bernardo. Set scores were not available.
In Division III, eighth-seeded Canyon Hills eliminated No. 9 Escondido, 25-17, 25-23, 25-23.
Fourth-seeded Clairemont defeated No. 13 San Pasqual, 25-18, 25-14, 25-8.
The result between No. 4 Del Norte and No. 13 La Costa Canyon remained unreported.
Thursday’s local quarterfinals
Division III
No. 7 Valhalla at No. 2 Steele Canyon, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Imperial at No. 3 Escondido Charter, 6 p.m.
The Valhalla-Steele Canyon winner advances to face the survivor between No. 3 Escondido Charter and No. 6 Imperial in the Division III semifinals.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Division I
No. 1 Westview 3, No. 16 Scripps Ranch 0
25-15, 25-17, 25-17
No. 8 Carlsbad 3, No. 9 Otay Ranch 1
No. 5 Point Loma 3, No. 12 Christian 0
25-16, 25-19, 25-19
No. 4 Del Norte vs. No. 13 La Costa Canyon — score not reported
No. 11 Academy of Our Lady of Peace 3, No. 6 Eastlake 2
No. 3 Santa Fe Christian 3, No. 14 Rancho Bernardo 0
No. 10 Classical Academy 3, No. 7 Patrick Henry 0
25-15, 25-13, 25-23
No. 2 Mission Vista 3, No. 15 Pacific Ridge 0
Division III
No. 1 Oceanside 3, No. 16 High Tech Mesa 0
No. 8 Canyon Hills 3, No. 9 Escondido 0
25-17, 25-23, 25-23
No. 12 Hilltop 3, No. 5 Mira Mesa 0
No. 4 Clairemont 3, No. 13 San Pasqual 0
25-18, 25-14, 25-8
No. 6 Imperial 3, No. 11 Grossmont 0
29-27, 25-14, 25-19
No. 3 Escondido Charter 3, No. 14 Central 0
25-15, 25-9, 25-11
No. 7 Valhalla 3, No. 10 Canyon Crest Academy 2
25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 18-25, 15-10
No. 2 Steele Canyon 3, No. 15 Rock Academy 0
25-10, 25-11, 25-13
Division IV
No. 1 Tri-City Christian 3, No. 16 Southwest EC 0
25-8, 25-17, 25-10
Division V
No. 8 Palo Verde Valley 3, No. 9 Kearny 1
No. 12 Vincent Memorial 3, No. 5 Monte Vista 2
25-22, 20-25, 27-29, 25-23, 15-10
No. 6 Mount Miguel 3, No. 11 Madison 2
21-25, 25-13, 25-18, 17-25, 15-11
No. 8 Chula Vista 3, No. 9 High Tech CV 1
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