Homestead-Salinas volleyball

Central Coast Section Division I finals

Saturday's match

No. 3 Homestead vs. No. 1 Salinas at Watsonville High, 7:30 p.m.

 With three of their last four losses having come from Los Altos, the Mustangs gained a measure of redemption when it mattered, sweeping their league rivals to reach the finals.
 An argument can be made that Homestead is playing its best volleyball of the season, having swept San Benito as well in the postseason.
 Since dropping the first two sets in its playoff opener to Los Gatos, the Cowboys have won their last six sets to return to the finals for the first time since 2009, the same year it went to state.
 Having tied the single-season school record for wins with 29 last Thursday, Salinas has won 22 of its last 23 matches.
 The return of setter Jennifer Foley from a concussion has helped ignite an attack that includes Aloha Delk, Christina Chagnon, Savanna Maker, Kylee Moore and Ashleigh Souza.
 Unlike last season when the Cowboys relied solely on one dominate hitter, all five have gotten into the fray this fall.
 The 6-foot-4 Maker has also been a disruptive force in the front row for Salinas, while Julie Foley and CSUMB bound Kaila Uota have combined for over 1,000 digs.
 Homestead attacks from both sides of the net as Indy De Smet, 5-11 Paige Bensing and 5-11 Sara Olsson all have over 300 kills this season.
 The Mustangs have some advantages with four players standing 5-11 or taller.
 The last time these two teams faced each other in the postseason was in the 2013 semifinals in which Homestead swept Salinas.
 The Mustangs also beat Salinas in five sets in the 2008 CCS Division I finals.