The Golden League girls' volleyball circuit, which for most of the past decade has been dominated by just one or two teams, is now more wide open than ever.
The league title race got a lot more complicated Tuesday, when Littlerock defeated Lancaster, 25-15, 16-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-12, in a grueling match that lasted nearly three hours.
Littlerock (3-1 Golden League) moved into a tie for first with Lancaster (3-1) and Quartz Hill (3-1). Highland (2-2) is just one game behind.
Even sixth-place Knight (1-4) has been surprisingly competitive, taking Littlerock and Lancaster to five-set matches in eventual losses Sept. 21 and Sept. 26, respectively.
The Hawks took the first two sets of the Lancaster match but the Eagles rallied for an 11-25, 16-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-7 victory.
"It's kind of an interesting situation," Lancaster coach David Gutierrez said. "There's a lot of parity in the league this year. Anybody is capable of beating anybody in any given match, I've been saying from the beginning."
Key contributor:
Sophomore setter/outside hitter Seferina Starks has emerged as a key contributor for Lancaster.
She's the younger sister of former Lancaster volleyball player Kristen Starks, who graduated last year.
"She kind of does everything for us and she's done very well, especially since it's only her second year playing," Gutierrez.
Starks has teamed up with senior standout setter/outside hitter Roxy Neely for one of the league's best setting/hitting combinations.
"It just happens that our two best setters are also our two best hitters, so we wanted them to do both," Gutierrez said.
Tough tournament:
Local entries Quartz Hill and Highland struggled at Saturday's prestigious Royal of Simi Valley tournament.
Quartz Hill's only victory came against Rancho Cucamonga in the first round of the Silver Division playoffs. The Rebels lost to Simi Valley, Flintridge Sacred Heart and Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta in pool play, and La Ca¤ada in the Silver Division quarterfinals.
Highland lost to Oak Park, Royal and Louisville of Woodland Hills in pool play, and then lost to Rio Mesa of Oxnard in the first round of the Silver Division playoffs.