Juliana Conn has been coaching high school and club volleyball at the highest level for a long time, so she knows match-planning and in-match adjustments are often the difference between winning matches and winning championships.
So, yes, Conn knows what she’s up against as her Cathedral Catholic High School team prepares to take on rival Torrey Pines, the No. 1-ranked team in the CIF San Diego Section and among the top 10 squads in the country.
“The reason why TP is good this year is because they have great weapons in all positions,” she said. “Not only outside.”
When the season began, the Falcons were ranked No. 1 in the Union-Tribune’s weekly poll with 100 out of a possible 100 points. Heading into the last week of the regular season, they’re still garnering all 10 possible first-place votes.
Torrey Pines has lost just four matches this year — to the Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 16 teams in the nation, according to MaxPreps.com. The Falcons are ranked No. 6 nationally.
Setter Emery Gonzalez and libero Lila Green are juniors who have veteran steadiness. Both are headed to top college programs, Gonzalez to Santa Clara and Green to Kansas.
One middle blocker, Marina Vosloo, will play collegiately at Arizona. The other, Danica Nordlicht, is headed to Columbia.
“We’re really deep into the defensive position so we’re fortunate enough that we can put a lot of people in different spots and still feel comfortable,” said Torrey Pines coach Brennan Dean. “We’ve got a really competitive gym that makes it so that we’re trying to extend plays and rallies.”
Torrey Pines’ Finley Krystkowiak hits against Cathedral Catholic during their game at Cathedral Catholic High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
But it often comes down to Torrey Pines’ star outside hitters, Finley Krystkowiak and Jaycee Mack. The 6-foot-4 Krystkowiak and 6-1 Mack possess powerful arms on the outside and have developed into national-level passers.
The daughter of longtime NBA and college basketball coach Larry Krystkowiak, Finley Krystkowiak has 228 kills (3.0 kills/set) and leads the team with 31 aces. Mack leads the way 251 kills (3.3/set), is second with 28 aces, second with 189 digs and has received 310 serves.
More than that, both are leaders who have shown an unflappability during stressful situations.
Dean recalled how Krystkowiak took over a match earlier this year.
“Our serve-receive was struggling and she completely took over the responsibility without saying a word, stepped into seams, demanded the tough balls, and our whole offense stabilized because of it,” Dean said. “It wasn’t loud or flashy. It was just a quiet, decisive moment where she showed she could influence a match without even taking a swing.”
Krystkowiak, who is headed to defending national champion Penn State, is quick to credit others.
“Everyone on the bench brings a lot of energy and they hype us up,” she said. “On the court, it’s a level of trust where we have each other’s backs no matter what.”
Torrey Pines is eyeing its first Open Division championship since 2019. Cathedral Catholic has owned the Open in recent years, winning four straight championships — three coming in the title match against Torrey Pines.
At a time when the sport is as popular as it’s ever been, supremacy in the indoor game comes down to Del Mar Heights Road.
Torrey Pines and Cathedral Catholic have met three times this season, their most memorable match coming in the finals of the Southern California Championship tournament at Alliant International University.
The Dons (23-7) found their energy in the first set and showed the mettle of a team coming off a state title. But Krystkowiak was there every time the Falcons were tested.
When Cathedral went up 6-4 early in the match, a Krystkowiak kill in serve receive earned the sideout. After two straight points to close to 16-14, the Falcons again went to Krystkowiak on the outside for the kill. The Falcons had three set points, but Dean was forced to call a timeout at 24-23.
Krystkowiak then put the ball away in transition for the set win.
In the second set, the Falcons never gave up more than two consecutive points on the way to a 25-18 win.
Jaycee Mack (Anna Scipione)
The Baylor-bound Mack had six kills in that first set win and a match-high nine on her way to all-tournament honors along with Nordlicht and Gonzalez.
Krystkowiak was selected tournament MVP, which probably shouldn’t have been surprising. Mack has spent nearly three full seasons now watching how Krystkowiak deals with pressure.
“She’s been my biggest inspiration here at Torrey,” Mack said. “Even before, I watched her play and she’s amazing. Now she’s one of my best friends and I honestly just love her. Even if she’s not doing well, she’s my person that I go to when I’m not doing well.
“She’s just a good person. She’s always helping everyone around her. She’s a very welcoming person. She’s a senior, so everyone looks to her and she takes that role very well.”
Originally Published: October 20, 2025 at 2:17 PM PDT