Narbonne and Banning clash for L.A. City volleyball crown
The two Marine League rivals, tied with 5-5 league records, meet Saturday at Venice High to determine the Division III champion.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Third-seeded Narbonne and fourth-seeded Banning will compete for the L.A. City Section Division III volleyball title this Saturday at 1:15 p.m. at Venice High. The matchup serves as a Marine League rematch for two teams that finished the regular season with identical 5-5 league records.
The schools have traded wins in their previous two encounters, both of which required five sets. Narbonne took the first meeting on Sept. 10 with a 15-8 score in the deciding set. Banning reclaimed the advantage in their Oct. 1 meeting, closing out the match 15-13 after falling behind in the first two sets.
Banning last claimed a city championship in 1973. Narbonne is currently without a city title in its history. Josefina Rodriguez led the Pilots in the Tuesday semifinal against No. 9 Marquez with 17 kills. The team also defeated No. 13 Port of Los Angeles and No. 12 Harbor Teacher to reach the final. The Pilots enter the match with a 20-21 overall record.
The Gauchos advanced by sweeping No. 19 Sun Valley Magnet in their opening playoff round. They then defeated No. 11 Larchmont Charter in a five-set contest that ended 16-14. In the Tuesday semifinal, Narbonne beat No. 18 Wilson in straight sets. The Gauchos hold an 8-11 record for the season.
