El Camino Reals Wins, Chatsworth Falls in City Volleyball Semifinals

Jennifer Dinaberg recorded 18 kills--including the match-winner--to lead El Camino Real High to a 15-3, 15-9, 15-2 sweep of Carson in a City Section 4-A Division volleyball semifinal at Hamilton High on Thursday.

The second-ranked Conquistadores (14-0) will meet eight-time defending champion and top-seeded Palisades for the title Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Dinaberg’s final kill came after Carson put a Tina Daigle serve into play. But her presence was felt long before that.

“She played a great all-around game,� El Camino Real Coach Lori Chandler said.

Dinaberg, a senior, got to work quickly, helping the Conquistadores ice the first game when she gently tapped the ball behind Carson’s Jasmine Lefeiloai for the final point.

With Carson leading, 2-0, in the second game, Dinaberg made a crucial dig that led to a sideout. She then served two points to pull El Camino Real into a tie.

Carson later rallied from a five-point deficit to within 7-6, but the rally was cut short by a powerful Dinaberg spike.

“They only had one blocker up there most of the time so it made it kind of easy,� Dinaberg said.

Carson and El Camino Real were tied, 2-2, in the final game, but the Colt defense disintegrated, allowing Tina Daigle to serve 13 consecutive points. Carson (14-2) earned only two sideouts in the game.

In the other semifinal:

Palisades d. Chatsworth, 15-10, 15-4, 15-6--Chatsworth (13-3) had just three blocks in three games and Palisades feasted on runs of 8-1, 13-0 and 12-2 in the first, second and third games, respectively.

Jody Paperno and Lisa Koven combined for 12 kills to lead Chatsworth, which lost to Palisades (18-0) in the City championship a year ago.

Chatsworth led, 4-2, in the second game but Natalie Akins served eight points in a row for Palisades.