East County Sports

Scots, Pack, Eagles, Knights, Hawks win

Helix wins on Wednesday night in La Mesa.

2026 CIF SAN DIEGO SECTION GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

Highlanders roll; Wolf Pack survives five-set thriller; Granite Hills, Foothills, Mountain Empire advance

By Ramon Scott

ECS staff writer

LA MESA — Helix continued its late-season surge Wednesday night, sweeping Maranatha Christian in the opening round of the CIF San Diego Section Division II playoffs.

The third-seeded Highlanders controlled the match from the start, winning 25-14, 25-19, 25-17 to advance into Friday’s quarterfinals against No. 6 Mission Bay.

Helix improved to 29-6 and extended its winning streak to seven matches. The Highlanders have won 17 consecutive sets since completing tournament play Oct. 10.

Elsewhere, West Hills survived a dramatic five-set match, Foothills Christian edged Bonita Vista in five, Granite Hills defeated Mission Hills in four and Mountain Empire dominated Orange Glen in straight sets.

Helix continues its surge

Helix never permitted Maranatha Christian to build serious momentum.

The Highlanders limited the Eagles to 14 points in the opening set, maintained control through the second and completed the sweep with an eight-point victory in the third.

The Highlanders have swept six consecutive opponents during their winning streak, including league victories over Grossmont, Steele Canyon, Santana and El Capitan.

Helix will host Mission Bay on Friday at 6 p.m. The Buccaneers advanced with a 27-25, 25-14, 25-18 victory over Santana.

Wolf Pack survives after losing two-set lead

West Hills appeared headed toward a quick victory after winning the first two sets against St. Joseph Academy, but the Wolf Pack needed a fifth-set response to keep its season alive.

West Hills prevailed, 25-11, 25-9, 22-25, 23-25, 15-11, after St. Joseph Academy forced the deciding set.

Junior middle blocker Eva Lopez delivered the winning points in the second and fifth sets. Her final kill ended the Crusaders’ comeback attempt and sent the Wolf Pack into Friday’s quarterfinals.

West Hills improved to 17-14 and will meet San Ysidro, which defeated Victory Christian Academy in four sets.

Foothills survives five-set opener

Foothills Christian advanced through one of Wednesday’s closest Division II matches, defeating Bonita Vista, 3-2.

Set scores and individual statistics were not immediately available.

The eighth-seeded Knights improved to 25-9 and advanced to meet the winner of the unreported first-round match between top-seeded Sage Creek and No. 16 University City.

Foothills entered the postseason after finishing tied for second in the Pacific League. The Knights will face a considerably greater challenge in the quarterfinal round, particularly if Sage Creek advanced as expected.

Granite Hills wins fifth straight

Granite Hills extended its winning streak to five matches with a four-set victory over Mission Hills.

The Eagles advanced, 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, recovering after Mission Hills evened the match in the second set.

Granite Hills improved to 25-13 and advanced to face second-seeded Poway in Friday’s Division II quarterfinals.

Poway eliminated El Capitan, 25-10, 25-23, 25-13. The Vaqueros nearly evened the match in the second set before Poway closed out the final points.

El Capitan finished its season at 15-15.

Mountain Empire dominates

Mountain Empire delivered the most decisive East County performance outside Helix, sweeping Orange Glen, 25-12, 25-11, 25-10.

The RedHawks improved to 18-12 and extended their winning streak to three matches. Mountain Empire has won six of its past seven, with its only loss during that stretch coming in five sets against High Tech Mesa.

Mountain Empire will host Horizon Prep in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Horizon Prep advanced by upsetting Valley Center in five sets, 25-16, 18-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-13.

Mission Bay eliminates Santana

Santana nearly stole the opening set against Mission Bay before the Buccaneers secured the final two points of a 27-25 win.

Mission Bay then pulled away to complete a 27-25, 25-14, 25-18 sweep.

The Sultans finished the season at 15-12 after placing fourth in the Grossmont Hills League.

Mission Bay improved to 25-12 and advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal at Helix.

River Valley eliminated in three

River Valley’s first postseason appearance ended with a straight-set loss to Escondido Adventist Academy.

The Hawks defeated the Leopards, 25-17, 25-17, 25-15, resolving an earlier conflicting result that had appeared in an automated recap.

River Valley finished 6-7. Escondido Adventist Academy advanced to visit fourth-seeded Calvin Christian on Friday.

San Ysidro stops Victory Christian

San Ysidro eliminated Victory Christian Academy, 25-22, 19-25, 25-19, 25-20.

Victory Christian responded after losing the opening set but could not carry that momentum through the third and fourth.

San Ysidro advanced to meet West Hills in Friday’s quarterfinal round.

Around the county

Ramona swept Morse, 25-12, 25-21, 25-16, and advanced to the Division II quarterfinals.

El Camino defeated Brawley, 25-15, 25-7, 25-20. The Wildcats will host Ramona on Friday.

High Tech CV outlasted O’Farrell Charter in five sets. Complete set scores were not available.

Montgomery defeated Sweetwater in five. Montgomery won the first set 25-19, the fourth 25-23 and the deciding set 15-11. Scores from the second and third sets were unavailable.

Horizon Prep rallied from a two-sets-to-one deficit to eliminate Valley Center in five.

Fallbrook recovered from dropping the opening set to defeat Mt. Carmel, 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 26-24.

Calipatria swept Julian, but set scores were unavailable.

The results between University City and Sage Creek and The Cambridge School and Cristo Rey had not been reported.

Tuesday’s Division I result between La Costa Canyon and Del Norte also remained unreported.

Friday’s East County quarterfinals

Division II

No. 6 Mission Bay at No. 3 Helix, 6 p.m.

No. 7 Granite Hills at No. 2 Poway, 6 p.m.

No. 8 Foothills Christian vs. No. 1 Sage Creek/No. 16 University City winner

Division IV

No. 13 Horizon Prep at No. 5 Mountain Empire, 6 p.m.

Division V-AA

San Ysidro vs. West Hills

Escondido Adventist Academy at No. 4 Calvin Christian

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Division II

No. 1 Sage Creek vs. No. 16 University City — score not reported

No. 8 Foothills Christian 3, No. 9 Bonita Vista 2

No. 5 Mission Bay 3, No. 12 Santana 0
27-25, 25-14, 25-18

No. 4 El Camino 3, No. 13 Brawley 0
25-15, 25-7, 25-20

No. 6 Ramona 3, No. 11 Morse 0
25-12, 25-21, 25-16

No. 3 Helix 3, No. 14 Maranatha Christian 0
25-14, 25-19, 25-17

No. 7 Granite Hills 3, No. 10 Mission Hills 1
25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18

No. 2 Poway 3, No. 15 El Capitan 0
25-10, 25-23, 25-13

Division IV

San Ysidro 3, Victory Christian Academy 1
25-22, 19-25, 25-19, 25-20

Montgomery 3, Sweetwater 2
Available Montgomery winning sets: 25-19, 25-23, 15-11

Mountain Empire 3, Orange Glen 0
25-12, 25-11, 25-10

High Tech CV 3, O’Farrell Charter 2

Horizon Prep 3, Valley Center 2
25-16, 18-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-13

Fallbrook 3, Mt. Carmel 1
15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 26-24

Division V-AA

West Hills 3, St. Joseph Academy 2
25-11, 25-9, 22-25, 23-25, 15-11

Escondido Adventist Academy 3, River Valley 0
25-17, 25-17, 25-15

Calipatria 3, Julian 0

The Cambridge School vs. Cristo Rey — score not reported

Additional Tuesday results

Division I

No. 4 Del Norte def. No. 13 La Costa Canyon — set scores unavailable

Division V-AA

Warner 3, Bonsall 0

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