ORANGE — Cathedral Catholic High School had already won six CIF state championships when the 2024 girls volleyball season began in August. Head coach Juliana Conn won two herself at the helm, including a mythical national championship two years ago.

But this season was supposed to be a down year. Torrey Pines, Francis Parker, Westview, San Marcos and others were given every chance to dethrone the Dons.

The powerful Southern Section was supposed to take care of any San Diego challenges.

Yet there they were Saturday night at 7:45 — 17 Dons gathered in a circle, arms wrapped around bodies, tears flowing.

Champions once again.

After just a year away from the figurative podium, Cathedral Catholic won the seventh CIF state championship in program history with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-16 sweep over San Jose Archbishop Mitty in a match held at Santiago Canyon College.

“From Day 1, we knew we had a great team, but we just didn’t know how far we could come,” Conn said. “But once they realized that all we have to do is have fun and play hard and play for each other, we got into a good rhythm. Once state hit, we were playing really good volleyball. Coming here today and winning state, it’s what we worked for.”

When Cathedral Catholic won a mythical national championship two years ago, it did so behind a stacked roster that included Oregon-bound opposite Noemie Glover, Cate Schnell (Tennessee), Jenna Hanes (Michigan), Milan Bayless (Colgate) and Stanford-bound MaxPreps National Player of the Year Julia Blyashov.

There were two sophomores on that squad — Mae Kordas and Maya Evens. It’s no surprise that Kordas’ massive offensive output and Evens’ typical defensive effort — not to mention their steady leadership — were the keys to victory Saturday.

“I feel like we’re all humble,” Evens said. “We’re kind of underdogs. No one really expects a ton from us. We’re not super physical. We’re not the biggest team. You can see that every player is working hard so that we can prove ourselves. Nothing’s given to us. Everyone wants to just go out and get it.”

While Kordas put a cap on an outstanding run through the postseason with a match-high 18 kills on 35 swings with seven digs and five blocks, the Dons (46-3) got contributions up and down their roster. Every hitter recorded at least five kills.

In Conn’s hybrid three-middle system, Allison Dzieciuch had nine kills and hit .692 while Kensley Hennessy hit .714 and had five blocks.

Opposite Sophia Johnson chipped in with eight kills while Jojo Wilson (six kills, six digs) and Mady McCarthy (five kills, eight digs) handled the load from the outside.

That versatility allowed 6-2 setters Kale’a Lee and Lauren Hanson (18 assists, eight digs) to move the ball around and not just give every ball to the unstoppable force that is Kordas.

Archbishop Mitty (29-7) keyed on Kordas but never actually knew where the attack was coming from.

“I think of (Mae) as a hero,” said the sophomore Lee, who had a team-high 22 assists and 10 digs. “She’s always there to save the day. I just build trust with my hitters. If they miss the first kill, I tell them you’re good and then give them another chance. You just have to build trust and that’s where their confidence comes in.”

Cathedral Catholic lost only two sets over the last two months, and both of those were in the postseason. That intense will to win was on display again Saturday toward the end of sets. The Monarchs made runs, but the Dons found the right hitters in the right spots time after time.

Evens had nine digs, one of six Dons players with at least six digs. After capturing her fourth San Diego section championship a month ago, she now has two state titles to her high school resume.

“Very blessed,” Evens said about her experience. “Great teams. Cathedral Catholic has been a really good volleyball program so we get a lot of really good players. I love being coached by my mom as much as I say I don’t like it. She’s a great coach, and I enjoy it. I love the intensity. I love playing alongside my teammates, and I’ll get to play alongside them in club. Everyone always brings such a happy and positive attitude, and that makes it more fun.”

It was a strange start to Set 1. Johnson waffled a ball out, Evens got aced and Wilson got roofed. The score flipped when, in order, Johnson got a kill, Evens an ace and Wilson a kill in transition. The Dons’ well-rounded attack built a 21-12 lead. The Monarchs went on a late 4-0 run before McCarthy’s kill in transition righted the ship. The Dons’ last three kills of the set came in the middle.

In Set 2, a 3-0 run got the Monarchs to within 13-11. But the Dons again got contributions from all over the court in putting together a 7-1 run. Realistically, the only thing to temporarily stop the Dons was a spider that made its way down from the ceiling to eye level before Kordas grabbed it and disposed of it.

The score was tied at 11 in set three when again the Dons looked for big plays from everywhere. Wilson got kills down the line for points 16 and 17, Hennessy got a stuff block for 18 and Wilson served an ace for an insurmountable 19-13 lead.

Kordas’ signature kill on a high two ball, Hennessy’s slide attack, Dzieciuch’s stuff block and Johnson’s tip kill set up match point.

“We just kept our side steady,” said Conn, who also won state titles in 2016 and ’22. “Passing well. Going to the people we know could do some damage. Once they figured it out, we went away from them and other girls had their chance to shine and came to play. Once we started playing like we’ve done through this state run, we knew we were going to do well and possibly win.”

Kordas stood on the sideline and watched when the 2022 Dons team captured the state and national championship.

She wasn’t a quiet bystander this year. On the contrary, the 6-foot-3 Yale-bound Kordas was the focus of every opponent and yet led MaxPreps’ No. 7-ranked Dons to wins over nationally ranked Los Alamitos, Redondo Union, Mater Dei and now 24th-ranked Archbishop Mitty.

The legacy of two-time state champion Kordas is now cemented on the program.

“I’m really proud of myself because it felt like two years ago we were going to win. There was no question about it,” she said. “But this year it was so much different. We had to work so hard, and I’m so proud of everyone. It still doesn’t feel real.”

Originally Published: November 23, 2024 at 9:34 PM PST