The La Jolla Country Day girls volleyball team made second consecutive Division IV state championship look easy. The Torreys didn’t lose a set in the playoffs and finished the season with a sweep of Atherton Sacred Heart Prep in the championship game played at San Jose State University on Dec. 4. “We were just much bigger, stronger, faster than they were,” head coach Peter Ogle said. “It’s very unique to have this much talent in a Division IV game.” LJCD (33-3) relied on its remarkable seniors to lead the way all year, and the title match was no different. The unrivaled group included Lauren Birks, Gillian Howard, Mollie Rogers, Chloe Mathis and Maggie Whitney. “It was our last game for us five seniors and we really came together as a team and went out trying to win it all,” Rogers said. Birks, who overcame an early season injury, led the team with eight digs against Sacred Heart Prep (24-11). Howard contributed eight blocks and nine kills. Rogers had nine kills to go along with three blocks. Junior Kendall Peterkin blasted eight kills and junior Maya Hood smacked four. Mathis had an eye-popping 31 assists. LJCD’s terrific depth was evident as Rogers, Howard, Peterkin and Mathis were named all-CIF performers with Mathis bringing home Player of the Year honors. “These past two years are the two best teams this school has ever had,” Ogle said. “It will be very difficult to meet this level of play again. We’re a small school and it’s a very unique group.” After playing together successfully for so many years, there was a little sadness about the end of an era. “It was definitely sad playing our last match together but it was a great way to end our four-year run,” said Rogers, who will be playing at Yale next year. “I’ll never forget it.”








