Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Girls’ Volleyball Dream Team: Sage’s Whitford leaves legacy
Kekai Whitford wrapped up her illustrious four-year run with the Sage Hill School girls’ volleyball team earlier this month. She had the Lightning one win away from playing for a CIF State title.
What did the senior do 17 days later? She had as many wisdom teeth removed as CIF Southern Section finals appearances she led Sage Hill to during her career.
Whitford doesn’t remember much about having four wisdom teeth pulled out last week. She said she was under general anesthesia and didn’t feel any pain during the surgery.
When Whitford woke up, that all changed. She said she couldn’t open her jaw, let alone talk. The downtime the next couple of days allowed Whitford to reflect on what she and her school accomplished in four seasons, playing for four section titles, winning three of them.
The final season for Whitford did not end the way she envisioned it, though. This was going to be the year a Lightning team won a CIF State title for the first time in any sport.
It wasn’t going to happen. Sage Hill bowed out in the CIF State Southern California Regional Division III finale for the second straight year, losing in four sets at home to Saddleback Valley Christian. The setback cost Sage Hill its 30-match home winning streak and its season.
While Sage Hill fell short of reaching the state championship, Whitford left her mark at the private school. From the first year she arrived, Whitford turned Sage Hill into a section champion. She left the program a section champion, as well as the best player in the area.
Whitford is the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year in girls’ volleyball. Sage Hill recorded many firsts, an outright Academy League crown this fall, back-to-back section titles and back-to-back regional runner-up finishes, because of Whitford.
Whitford was the cornerstone of Sage Hill’s success, particularly in the last two years. The outside hitter did everything for the Lightning (25-4, 12-0 in league), hitting, serving and digging, all at a high level. Sage Hill Coach Dan Thomassen said it best when he called Whitford “a complete volleyball player.”
“Kekai is one of the most dynamic athletes around,” Thomassen said. “She dominated at the net, but maybe has an even bigger impact in the back row. She makes unbelievable plays routinely that few other players can.”
There’s a reason why Whitford, who’s 5-foot-7, has holes in her jersey. She got after it on the court. She was as comfortable hammering the ball for a kill as diving to dig one out. Whitford ranked No. 1 in kills (315), digs (422) and service aces (72) at Sage Hill.
The team wasn’t short of talent, and it showed right away in September. In a nonleague match, host Sage Hill swept Mater Dei, which went into the season ranked No. 2 in the Division 1AA poll and wound up as the section runner-up. Sage Hill then reached the quarterfinals of the prestigious Dave Mohs Championships for the first time in the top division.
Two other seniors, outside hitter Halland McKenna and setter Maddy Abbott, have been with Whitford from the start of one of the best four-year runs in Orange County. During the span, Sage Hill compiled a 99-22 overall record, never dropping more than six matches in a season, and a 39-5 mark in league. The program finished as the league champion three times, sharing it in 2013 and ‘11, and the Lightning claimed the Division 3AA title this year, the Division 3A title last year and the Division 4AA title three years ago.
The only team to knock off the Lightning in a section final was archrival St. Margaret’s in Division 3A in 2012. Whitford and company got revenge on the Tartans, beating them, 25-12, 26-28, 25-22, 25-16, in the Division 3AA final at Fullerton College last month.
The first and last section championship triumphs by the Lightning came against St. Margaret’s. Both are special to Whitford, but the final one meant a lot more. It marked the final time Whitford, McKenna and Abbott could lift Sage Hill to a section championship together. All three are going their separate ways after high school, Whitford to play at Loyola Marymount, McKenna to Stanford and Abbott to Michigan.
“I’m definitely going to miss the girls a whole lot, and I do actually love these girls,” said Whitford, a two-time Dream Team pick who also earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 3AA, All-Orange County third team and All-Academy League first team honors. “We came to Sage Hill as freshmen and not knowing what was going to happen. I had no idea what CIF was back then. We were nervous. The upperclassmen were so welcoming. They taught us to play with each other and for each other, and don’t forget to have a good time. We definitely did all of that.”
The rest of the Dream Team follows:
Katie Craig
Corona del Mar
The senior outside hitter led Corona del Mar to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs, its best season under second-year Sea Kings Coach Steve Astor. Craig stepped up to provide leadership and production after Hayley Hodson, one of the top players in the country, did not return to CdM for her senior season. Craig shared the Pacific Coast League MVP award after the Sea Kings’ undefeated league title. She earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 1AA and first-team All-Orange County accolades, recording 347 kills, 164 digs and 25 blocks. Craig is bound for Colorado State as a preferred walk-on player.
Halland McKenna
Sage Hill
The senior outside hitter keyed Sage Hill’s incredible four-year run, four CIF Southern Section finals appearances that resulted in three titles, including the Division 3AA crown against rival St. Margaret’s in November. McKenna, the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA Player of the Year, is heading to Stanford to play libero. She was a big-time hitter for the Lightning, totaling 295 kills and finishing with a .325 hitting percentage. She holds the school-record for career kills (1,552). McKenna, who made the All-Academy League first team and All-Orange County second team, produced 361 digs and 59 service aces. McKenna is a three-time Dream Team selection.
Natalia Bruening
Corona del Mar
The junior middle blocker delivered in the big matches, including in the Sea Kings’ 25-15, 20-25, 25-20, 24-26, 15-11 home upset of No. 2-seeded Lakewood in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs. Bruening, who’s 6-foot-4, hit out of multiple sets in different spots and controlled the net, finishing with 10 kills in the match and helping CdM produce 11 blocks. Bruening made the All-Pacific Coast League first team and All-Orange County second team. She compiled 228 kills and 50 blocks. Bruening also led the CdM girls’ basketball team to the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA semifinals in March.
Maddy Abbott
Sage Hill
The senior setter set the example for the Lightning, on and off the court, and it led to Sage Hill winning three CIF Southern Section championships in four seasons. Abbott ran Sage Hill’s offense, and the main beneficiaries were outside hitters Kekai Whitford and Halland McKenna. She received the Academy League MVP award, along with All-CIF Southern Section Division 3AA and second-team All-Orange County honors. Abbott, who totaled 955 assists and 50 aces, is going to Michigan, where her father, Jim Abbott, stood out in baseball before becoming a major league pitcher. Maddy Abbott is a two-time Dream Team selection.
Payton Carter
Corona del Mar
The junior libero proved to be the best libero on either side of the net, and that’s saying a lot considering CdM’s daunting schedule. The Sea Kings played the likes of Lakewood, Mater Dei and Los Angeles Marymount, the Nos. 2, 3 and 4 seeds in the CIF Southern Section Division 1AA playoffs, Laguna Beach, the No. 3 seed in Division 2AA, Corona Santiago, the No. 2 seed in Division 1A, and national powerhouse programs like Hillcrest of Simpsonville, S.C., Campolindo of Moraga, Calif., and Marist of Chicago. Carter finished with 270 digs. She was first-team All-Orange County and first-team All-Pacific Coast League.
Jessie Harris
Corona del Mar
The junior opposite was one of the most versatile players in Orange County, performing at a high level as an opposite, setter and outside hitter. Harris’ skill set allows her to hit, set, block and pass at a high level. Wherever the Sea Kings needed her, Harris stepped in and contributed, helping CdM to its second straight season with a 25-6 overall record and 10-0 mark in the Pacific Coast League. Harris shared Pacific Coast League MVP honors and was third-team All-Orange County. She finished with 274 kills, 438 assists, 152 digs and 20 blocks.
Samantha Jones
Corona del Mar
The senior gave the Sea Kings the two best middle blockers in the area, giving opponents fits. Jones, a 6-footer, excelled whenever she attacked, but CdM Coach Steve Astor admired her read blocking ability, one of the toughest things to do in volleyball. She played calm, read the play, and reacted to slow down the ball, playing a vital role to the Sea Kings’ success on defense. Jones also served well for a middle blocker. Jones finished with 125 kills, 61 blocks and 29 digs. She garnered second-team All-Pacific Coast League laurels.
Twitter:@ DCPenaloza