Redondo Union's girls volleyball season was two sets from ending Tuesday, Oct. 27. Instead, the Sea Hawks stormed back to beat No. 1 seed Newport Harbor in five sets at home, advancing in the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division 2 playoffs.

The final line: 25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-7, as reported by the Daily Breeze.

Three Redondo seniors powered the comeback. Abbie Hairrell led with 17 kills. Leah Blair added 13 kills, and Sienna Castillo finished with 10 kills and five blocks. Newport Harbor (29-7) got 27 kills from Ella Olson and 19 from Piper Coady, but it wasn't enough once Redondo found its rhythm.

Down two sets to one, the Sea Hawks jumped to a 10-4 lead in the fourth set. Blair hammered four kills in that stretch, and Castillo and Hairrell each had two blocks. Blair added two more kills and a service ace to push Redondo to set point at 24-15. Hairrell's kill forced a deciding fifth set.

"We just came out in that fourth set with all engines firing just really excited, playing for each other," Hairrell told the Daily Breeze.

The fifth set was a blowout. Hairrell opened with a pair of kills, and Castillo combined with Addison Uphoff on three blocks. Senior Linnaea Nielsen delivered two of the set's biggest plays, digging an Olson attack that dropped over the net for a 6-1 lead, then ending a long rally with a kill to make it 13-3. Castillo sealed the match with a block on a Coady attempt.

Redondo coach Lacey Minzlaff credited defensive adjustments for the turnaround, saying the team's middles did a great job on the block and the defense made key changes.

Nielsen finished with five kills. The Sea Hawks improved to 21-11.

Semifinal rematch Saturday

Redondo travels to San Juan Hills (21-12) on Saturday, Oct. 31, for a Division 2 semifinal. The OC Register reported that San Juan Hills swept Corona Centennial on Tuesday to set up the matchup.

The two teams met in last year's Division 1 quarterfinals, when San Juan Hills won in five sets 25-23, 25-21, 26-28, 22-25, 24-22. Both programs have since moved to Division 2 this season.

San Juan Hills features junior outside hitter Megan Hodges, who had 36 kills against Redondo in that 2025 match, according to SI.com's November 2025 rankings. She is committed to Nebraska.

The Division 2 final is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7.