The defending Ocean League Champions Culver City girls’ volleyball team will take their winning show on the road today when they battle Beverly Hills at 3:15 p.m. The girls’ volleyball team is 16-3 overall and 3-0 in the Ocean league. Beverly Hills is 4-5 overall and 1-1 in the Ocean League.
The first place Centaurs are coming off an impressive victory last Thursday against league rival Santa Monica inside the Del Goodyear Gym on the Culver City High School campus. The team beat Santa Monica 3-1 but every game was a battle of the titans. Santa Monica is 8-6 and 1-1 in the Ocean League.
“Santa Monica is a very good team,” Culver City coach Joe Manzo said after the victory. “They have great talent and they never let the ball hit the gym floor. They play hard and they never give up. We have a lot of respect for Santa Monica.”
The Centaurs are loaded with very good high school volleyball players and once again the team was led by team captains Taylor Selfride and Tina Grant. In addition, the team received help from Adili Rikondja, Jessica Stewart and Armani Moultrie.
Selfride leads the team with 157 kills followed by Moultrie with 88 and Rikondia with 52. Grant, the heart and soul of the team is one of the best diggers and setters in the Ocean league.
“Overall the defense and intensity of our team was very good,” Manzo said. “We have a big front line so it helps us when we need to block shots at the net.”
The team is riding the wave of confidence created by the streak of wins.
“We were really excited today because we were playing Santa Monica,” Grant said. “It feels good. We did a great job as a team. Who wants to lose in their own house? We really wanted to win this game.”
It was the first time that freshman Steward played in a high school rivalry game.
“We showed up today,” Stewart said. “This is my first year at Culver City and it’s fun to say we beat Santa Monica.”
Coach Manzo was also impressed with Culver City crowd.
“The crowd was tremendous,” Manzo said. “ That was a great feeling to see all the support from our fans. That only helps us play better.”
Culver City’s next home game will be against Lawndale next Tuesday at 3 p.m.