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Varsity players react with excitement after winning the match against Kennedy during the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Section 1 girls volleyball final at Birmingham Community Charter High School in Van Nuys on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
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Varsity players react with excitement after winning the match against Kennedy during the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Section 1 girls volleyball final at Birmingham Community Charter High School in Van Nuys on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Mark Savage, Contributing Photographer)
VAN NUYS – The Kennedy girls volleyball team fell in straight sets to University, 25-16, 25-17, 25-23, in the CIF LA City Section Division I championship game Saturday night at Birmingham High.
The university has won back-to-back Division I titles and won three LA City titles in four years. She defeated Kennedy in the Division 2 final in 2022.
University was led by sophomore middle blocker Avi Raygoza, who finished with 17 kills and five blocks.
“The varsity had a great game today,” Kennedy coach Julia Erickson said. “I thought our girls did a great job competing.”
The varsity limited Kennedy star outside hitter Aliyah Richards, who entered the game with 312 kills this season. Richards finished the game with seven kills and nine digs. University also forced him into four hitting errors.
Two players for the University, Sophia Newell and Sierra Harris, had strong outings. Both finished with nine assists. Outside hitter Yulyana Kmita had nine kills for University.
University jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set. Kennedy was unable to claw back as the Wildcats won 25-16. Raygoza had seven of her kills in the first set.
The second set was similar, as University was able to force Kennedy into several errors with Raygoza being a constant offensive presence. Raygoza also had seven kills in the second set.
“It feels really amazing to win the title and come back in a row,” said Raygoza. “I believe I was able to play well because my team was coming together and the groups were on point.”
Kennedy led 21-16 in the third set, but could not close it out. Kayla Carpenter had two aces in the final five points of the University match, and also had the game-winning hit to make the final score of the set 25-23. Kmita also had two crucial late kills for University.
Middle blocker Ariana Lopez finished the match with seven kills and two blocks for Kennedy. Laila Teplin had 13 assists in the game for the Golden Cougars.
Kennedy (31-10), which set a school record for most wins in a season by a girls volleyball team, advances to the CIF State Regional playoffs. The pairings will be released on Sunday.
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