PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran beach volleyball team advances into semifinals of CIF playoffs

Tate Neuhoff (left) and Cali Piazza of Crean Lutheran celebrate a point during the quarterfinal match. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs / John Luciano).

Crean Lutheran High School’s girls beach volleyball team has advanced into the semifinals of the inaugural CIF Division 2 playoffs.

The fourth-seeded Saints, coached by Karlee Riggs, defeated Windward 5-0 in the quarterfinals Wednesday in Santa Monica to move into the semifinals Saturday against top-seeded Oaks Christian (16-0) Saturday, May 15, at 10:15 at Long Beach City College.

Capistrano Valley Christian (15-1) meets South Torrance (12-1) in the other Division 2 semifinal Saturday at 9 a.m. with the winners of the two semis meeting in the finals Saturday at 2 p.m. at LBCC.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Tate Neuhoff gets ready to serve for the Saints.

Mia Rogers (left) and Abby Thies get ready for a point.

Kylie Sarton of Crean Lutheran goes for the ball.

Liz Park of Crean Lutheran goes for a point.

Makenzie Dews of Crean Lutheran (left) makes a play at the net.

Madi Moore of Crean Lutheran makes a play.

Crean Lutheran players and coaches celebrate a quarterfinal round victory.

“i am so honored to be a part of such an amazing group of young women,” Riggs said. “They have been such a blessing to work with and watch grow not only as athletes be really awesome humans.”

Riggs said the Saints (14-2) showed a team effort to win in the quarterfinals.

“Wednesday’s match was such a blast to watch,” she said. “Our girls have had only one mission and that mission has been to make it to CIF finals and win. Along with that mission is the mission of competing as one. One unit, one team, one body. We told our girls before the game, ‘look at the person to right and the person to your left,’ that’s who you are playing for today. Each other. 

“Every single match we get faced with different challenges at different levels and it’s up to each team to fight for that win at whatever seed they play at. We win as a team and lose as a team. I think all of our girls individually bring something so important. We wouldn’t be where we are right now if it weren’t for each and every single one of them.”

Riggs is looking for another strong effort Saturday in the semifinals. 

“If we continue to compete and play how we played against Windward in the quarter finals I know that it will be hard for our energy and drive to be stopped,” she said. ” I’m very proud of these girls for everything they have accomplished and I can’t wait to see what else they can do and who they become after this journey through CIF.”

DIVISION 1

Mater Dei (11-4) faces Mira Costa (13-0) in the first semifinal Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at LBCC. JSerra (16-1) meets Redondo Union (10-2) in the other semifinal. The winners of the semifinals meet in the championship at 3:30 p.m.