Reigning city champions girls’ volleyball prepare to face the Arrowhead Christian Eagles in the first round of Division 3 state regional playoffs today at 6 p.m. 

Co-head coach Raul Aviles said that the team is “absolutely confident” and that “we’ve been working all year long for a championship.” 

Venice enter the match as heavy favorites as the fifth seed. Meanwhile, Arrowhead Christian enters as the 12th seed. 

The Gondoliers finished the regular season with a 44-8 record, and a 10-2 record in the Western League, where they finished in second place. 

Last Tuesday, Granada Hills beat Venice 3-1 in the semifinals of the Open Division City Playoffs. It was an extremely tight game.

“Gameplan-wise, nothing went wrong,” Aviles said. “Grenada just won more of the 50-50 balls, and that was the difference Granada Hills won the match 3-1 in sets.”

In the first round of the Open Division City Playoffs, the Gondoliers swept the Palisades Dolphins 3-0 October 26.

It was a significant victory, because during the regular season, the Gondoliers came up short four times against the Dolphins. 

Other than the team’s elite technical prowess, it’s their mentality that sets them apart from other teams. 

“We’re all very dedicated and hard workers, so I don’t think anyone should count us out of going back to back,” said junior Tinoa Woodward-Hart, a co-captain.