Two Murrieta volleyball programs advanced to the CIF Southern Section semifinals on Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Murrieta Valley defeated Orange Lutheran 3-2 in a Division 2 quarterfinal, and Vista Murrieta swept Arcadia 3-0 in Division 4, according to the Press Enterprise's playoff scoreboard.
The Nighthawks needed all five sets to get past Orange Lutheran. Set-by-set scores were not immediately available. The result continued a pattern for a Murrieta Valley squad that has been tested in tight playoff matches. Entering the quarterfinal, the program was 3-1 at home in five-set playoff matches dating back to 2024, according to the Press Enterprise.
Head coach Rochelle Short's team carried a 26-7 record into the quarterfinal after surviving a five-set thriller against Palos Verdes in the Division 2 first round on Oct. 20. Summer Tukua led that match with 20 kills. Chandler Short added 16 kills and four aces.
After the Palos Verdes win, Tukua told the Press Enterprise in coverage published Oct. 21: "In a fifth set you just have to forget about what happened earlier in the match and be where your feet are … fighting with the girl next to you for every point."
The Nighthawks have also clinched a berth in the CIF State tournament.
Vista Murrieta's path was more direct. The Broncos dispatched Arcadia in straight sets to advance in Division 4. Set-by-set scores for that match were not immediately available.
Vista Murrieta entered the quarterfinal riding a four-game winning streak that included a 3-1 first-round victory over Ventura, according to MaxPreps. Sophia Crull posted 25 assists, 14 kills, nine digs and five aces in that Ventura match. Kaylin Sun added 18 digs and six aces.
Both programs now wait for the CIF Southern Section to publish semifinal brackets. Opponents and dates for Murrieta Valley in Division 2 and Vista Murrieta in Division 4 had not been officially posted as of Wednesday, Oct. 28.
