El Toro overcomes early deficits to beat St. Anthony
Chargers advance to the Division 5 semifinal after dropping two sets and facing large point gaps in a three-game sweep.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
El Toro defeated St. Anthony of Long Beach on Wednesday to advance in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 tournament.
The Chargers won the three-game sweep with scores of 25-23, 25-17, and 25-22. This victory moves El Toro to a 21-10 record on the season. St. Anthony drops to 20-15-1. The Saints are now eliminated from the race for a third section title.
The first set required a late surge from El Toro. The team trailed 19-14 before Elli Hirosumi served four consecutive points. Sophie Nigro added a block and a kill to bring the Chargers within one point. Hirosumi recorded a kill, and Jessa Jarrett served an ace to end the set. El Toro committed six service errors during the game and allowed four aces from the Saints.
The second set was more controlled for the Chargers. They built a lead from 7-5 to 19-11. Lindsay Keith scored four of El Toro’s final five points in that game. Nigro recorded 40 assists for the team. Hirosumi had 11 kills, and Keith had 15.
The third set mirrored a difficult stretch from the previous round. El Toro fell behind 16-11. Senior Liz Njoroge sparked a comeback with a kill and a block to cut the deficit to one point. The team trailed 18-15 before scoring five straight points. Hirosumi started the run with two kills. Her spike made the score 21-20. Ellie Tredwell blocked a shot for 22-21. Sarah McCormick added a point for 23-22. Keith finished the set with two kills.
Coach Gus Culver noted that the team did not start well but found rhythm. He said the momentum from the second set carried over. Culver highlighted the bench, specifically serving specialist Avery Ko and Tredwell, for key points. He stated the team’s balanced attack forces opponents to defend three hitters. This balance provided confidence after shaky service receptions.
Njoroge finished with four kills and a team-high six blocks. She said the team draws on its chemistry and good run. She added that facing adversity helps the group see how it fights back. This experience makes the team stronger and clarifies what is needed when play does not go smoothly. She noted that St. Anthony provided the necessary competition to test that resilience.
El Toro will play its semifinal match on Saturday at Liberty of Winchester. Liberty defeated Canyon of Canyon Country in five games on Wednesday. The Chargers also beat top-seeded Marlborough of Los Angeles in the second round. A win on Saturday would send El Toro to the finals for the first time since 2022. The team is aiming to replicate its championship performance from 2021.
