Capuchino volleyball maintains control of PAL Ocean Division

“All around, Maya is one of our more consistent players — offense, defense, all of the above,” Capuchino first-year head coach Julia Rodman said. “She’s one of our team captains, so people really look up to her. So, when she gets hyped, everybody else gets hyped.”

The other Mustangs look up to the junior outside hitter because — on a roster that features just three seniors with five sophomores — she is one of the most experienced players on the team. Make no mistake, though, it is Cap’s sophomore class that is driving the program to seven straight wins to open Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division play, the Mustangs’ best start since 2022 when they ran the table to an Ocean Division title.

“The sophomores have been great,” Rodman said. “We have some players that are returning from varsity last year, and then I pulled up a couple of our sophomores this year. I’ve seen a lot of ability to learn, adaptability, a lot of fearlessness on the court, and lots of good consistency. Especially in a faster paced game ... they’ve really stepped up.”

Sophomore outside hitter Daniella Roberov led the way Thursday with a match-high 12 kills, seven of them coming the decisive Game 3. Sophomore middle Mia Santos-Stevenson balanced the attack with eight kills and two blocks, while Canas and sophomore opposite hitter Daniella Enriquez scored five kills apiece.

When that class of 2028 standouts arrived on campus last year, Roberov was the new edition to the group, as the other four current sophomores, Santos-Stevenson, Enriquez, Ella Shin and Talia Padilla, all went to Parkside Intermediate School. Roberov attended Highlands Middle School.

The quintet of sophomores has struck up a quick chemistry, though. It’s that chemistry that has Cap sitting atop the PAL Ocean standings.

“I feel very comfortable playing next to [Roberov] and I trust in her skills a lot,” Santos-Stevenson said.

At 6-feet, Santos-Stevenson had a tall order in matching up with Mills’ 5-11 junior middle Abigail Purvey. The Lady Vikings (4-3, 9-15) entered the day two games back of Cap in the standings with a chance to force their way into contention in the PAL Ocean, with their fate riding largely on Purvey’s shoulders.

“We have just seen so much growth in between last season and this season,” Mills head coach Lauren Campanelli said. “We’ve really tried to make sure that we are utilizing her as much as possible. As an overall player, she just has that go-getter mindset, and she’s driven.”

Purvey was limited to a team-high six kills with one block, but she showed her driven nature early in Game 3. Each team was levied with one yellow card during the set, the first being handed to Purvey after a disputed net violation against Cap actually went Mills’ way. On the next point, Purvey took out her frustrations on a Mustangs overpass by hammering down a kill with authority to give the Vikings an early 6-5 advantage.

“When things don’t go her way, she is that type of player that will automatically be like: ‘How can I make the next play better?’” Campanelli said.

It was one of few highlights on the afternoon for Mills, however, as Cap set the tone early. With Roberov at the service line, the Mustangs jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and never trailed in the opening set. Junior defensive specialist Cameron Luz fired a pair of aces during a service run to push the lead to 11-4. Sandwiched between those two aces was a momentous solo block by Santos-Stevenson on a thundering swing from Purvey.

In the second set, Mills stayed with Cap until the middle game, when the Mustangs rode a 7-1 run to a decisive advantage. During the run, Santos-Stevenson and senior middle Emelia Singer teamed on a double block to deflect and set to the left side for Roberov to flow with the instinctive play and connect for the kill. Junior setter Miya Sikioka then finished out the run with a service ace to make it 18-10.

There were four lead changes in Game 3, with Mills staying even as long as 17-all. Cap senior Logan Scriber set the tone early. Typically an outside hitter, Scriber looked like a natural moving to the right side with her first match kill, then followed with a defensive gem on the ensuing point.

“She is really good at placing balls on the court,” Santos-Stevenson said. “This year, because of the new people coming in, it’s been a little harder to divvy up playing time. But when she does, she’s able to put the ball away. She’s able to adjust quickly.”

The Vikings trailed 11-8, but went on a run capped by an ace from senior setter Noelle Young to tie it 12-12. After a side-out, junior middle Miila Hassan connected through the middle to tie it 13-13. Back and forth the teams went, as Purvey later scored a block to tie it 15-15, Cap tied it 16-all with Canas scoring off the left side, and Mills holding firm at 17-all when Cap misfired long.

Then Canas and Santos-Stevenson scored back-to-back kills, and Padilla scorched an ace to give Cap a cushion to lead it the rest of the way.

Mills libero Chloe Wong, the team’s longest tenured player as a third-year varsity senior, led the team with 14 digs.

“She’s just been a key defensive player for us,” Campanelli said. “Her volleyball IQ, just being able to read and pick up things, is really sharp. If she gets burned on something, she makes sure that the next time that does not happen.”

With the win, Cap opens the second half of league play by maintaining outright control of first place in the PAL Ocean. Mills falls to fourth place behind second-place El Camino and third-place San Mateo.