High School Volleyball Playoffs : Carson Closes Quickly to Defeat Chatsworth in City 4-A Semifinals

Chatsworth had its dream of a City Section 4-A Division volleyball championship derailed by undefeated Carson, 15-7, 12-15, 15-9, 15-9, in a semifinal match Thursday at Venice High.

Carson (18-0), the No. 2-seeded team, plays Roosevelt, which defeated top-seeded University, 10-15, 0-15, 15-9, 15-10, 15-11, for the championship at UCLA on Saturday.

“My starting people really played hard--they had to. We didn’t have a bench,” said Carson Coach Catalino Ignacio, who will be making his second consecutive trip to the final.

Last season, Carson lost to Palisades in the championship match.

Said Chatsworth Coach Steve Berk: “This was our most difficult match of the series. They made bad plays into good plays.”

Carson relied on outside hitters Lala Lesa and Teila Robertson, who combined for 28 kills.

Chatsworth was led by Jennifer Mischler and Shawn Davison. Mischler had 13 kills and Davison added 11.

Carson’s Joanne Robertson recorded 6 kills.

Chatsworth (16-2) has never advanced past the semifinals.

“We just can’t get over that hump,” Berk said.