It’s the lull before the storm for many high school volleyball teams, with the exciting CIF section playoffs about to begin. Top squads such as Mater Dei-Santa Ana and Torrey Pines-San Diego are finishing up a winning league campaign and looking ahead to the post-season. In the Trinity League, Sierra Canyon beat Marymount in four sets to grab a stranglehold in that loop. In the Central Valley, Clovis has pulled two games ahead of Buchanan and Clovis West in the Tri-River League.

Section playoffs begin in the next week or two, with the featured Southern Section competition kicking off on October 21.

Conversely, for a few pockets in the state, exciting league races between and among rivals are in the final stages. No lull yet for them. In the Sierra Foothill League, Folsom upended Rocklin to join the Thunder in a first-place tie. And the gym will be rocking in Redondo this week as Redondo Union-Redondo Beach hosts Mira Costa-Manhattan Beach with the Bay League title at stake.

(records through October 12)

Trailblazers, led by Hanna McGinest’s 12 kills, beat Marymount 25-13, 25-15, 12-25, 25-22. Setter Lucky Fasavalu passed for 28 assists and ripped six fierce aces. Kendall Omorunyi added eight kills. Sierra Canyon also defeated Harvard-Westlake-Studio City.

Monarchs beat Orange Lutheran-Orange 25-17, 25-12, 25-18 with Layli Ostovar smashing 18 kills and Kaia Ciszewski adding 15. Westley Matavao notched 10 kills in a sweep of Santa Margarita-Rancho Santa Margarita.

After the tournament split with Redondo Union, the Monarchs are back in West Catholic League play. Battles with St. Francis-Mountain View and St. Ignatius-San Francisco are on the docket.

Falcons captured Southern California Invitational with a title match sweep of Cathedral Catholic-San Diego by scores of 25-23, 25-18. Jaycee Mack had nine kills and Finley Krystkowiak added seven.

Sea Hawks topped El Segundo in four sets. Hey, someone other than Mira Costa took a set off RU in Bay League play.

Audrey Flanagan leads the Mustangs with 254 kills, with Simone Roslon in second with 150.

First two rough sets against Sierra Canyon were based in serve receive and defensive struggles. Sailors looked better after that but dropped the contest. Makenna Barnes had 15 kills and Sammy Destler added 12.

Wildcats lead the Marin County League, with Redwood-Larkspur and Branson-Ross close behind.

Madyson McCarthy and the Dons lost to Torrey Pines but have their eyes on a rematch in the San Diego Section playoffs.

Griffins needed five sets to beat Marina-Huntington Beach 25-21, 25-17, 22-25, 19-25, 15-11 and five sets to down Corona del Mar-Newport Beach 25-17, 25-15, 22-25, 20-25, 15-9. Los Al is 12-0 in the Sunset-Surf League.

Wolverines have not stolen a set off league powers Sierra Canyon and Marymount but have not dropped a set in other league matches, as they have nabbed all 18 sets in those.

Cougars rolling at 6-0 in the Tri-River League, with a big sweep at Buchanan-Clovis 25-21, 25-21, 25-22. Nicole Ndole belted 14 kills and Lyla Rose added 10.

Keira Nelson led with 17 kills in the loss to Clovis. BHS is 4-2 in league play, tied with Clovis West-Fresno.

Oaks won the big rematch with Thousand Oaks 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 20-25, 15-8. Sadie Kocur led with 12 kills. Masina Ogbechie and McKenna Kimbell each added 11 kills. Lions also beat Clovis West 25-17, 26-24 in a tournament match.

Bulldogs swept Rocklin 25-17, 25-19, 25-23 behind Jazmin Ojo’s 17 kills and Addison Smith’s 13 kills.

Stallions fell to Monte Vista-Danville 25-23, 25-21 in tournament play.

Eagles lost 2-1 versus Mira Costa and 3-0 to Mater Dei, but nothing wrong with those. Santa Margarita notched a big win over a strong JSerra Catholic-San Juan Capistrano team 25-20, 13-25, 23-25, 25-15, 15-11.

Lancers lost rematch with Oaks Christian to fall into Marmonte League tie for first with their rival. TO holds a recent 25-19, 25-19 tourney loss to top-rated Sierra Canyon.

Golden Eagles are 4-2 in the Tri-River League, behind leader Clovis. Loss to the Cougars came in a five-set donnybrook.

The Tigers have a 13-game win streak in which they have dropped just three sets. Will be interesting to see how they fare versus tougher competition in upcoming section playoffs.

On the bubble: Temecula Valley-Temecula (SS), St. Ignatius (CCS), Rocklin (SJS).

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