By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
The Mission Valley League girls volleyball title will stay at Gabrielino High School. Senior outside hitter Amanda Watkins had 20 kills and Ashley Van Oosten had eight as the Eagles clinched their seventh consecutive league title with a 27-25, 25-12, 25-13 victory over host El Monte on Wednesday. (to continue click thread)

Gabrielino, which also swept the Lions last month, improved to 20-6 overall and 9-0 in league play. The Eagles, who are ranked No. 6 in CIF-Southern Section Division 3A, close the regular season against Mountain View on Friday.

El Monte, getting five kills from Amanda Duenas, slipped to 15-3 and 7-2. The Lions are at Rosemead on Friday.

But it didn’t start out that way. El Monte, which last won a league title in 2003, was hoping to earn a piece of this one, and it showed early on.

The Lions, getting two kills from Duenas and a block from Cristella Gonzalez, jumped out to leads of 5-3 and 11-6 in the first game.

Gabrielino was finally able to work Watkins into its scheme, though, and used an 8-2 run for a 17-15 lead.

El Monte rallied to tie the score at 25 before the Eagles won it 27-25 following a mis-hit and a drop shot by Van Oosten.

“We got off to a good start, we just couldn’t get into our rhythm,” El Monte coach Kendra Navarro said. “We had what I thought were a few bad calls, and that in turn can ruin your momentum. But Gabrielino’s a good team. I won’t take that away from them.”

Gabrielino, especially Watkins, took control from there. The Eagles, getting five kills from Watkins, jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the second game. They won 10 of the final 12 points to win it 25-12.

Watkins then had 11 kills in the third game as Gabrielino scored the first six points and led 17-6 before winning it following consecutive kills from Watkins, Katherine Vuong and Van Oosten.

steve.ramirez@sgvn.com 626-962-8811, ext. 2296