Carlsbad and Sage Creek girls volleyball teams open tournament play in Hawaii on Thursday, Sept. 3, with both programs ranked in the top four of the CIF San Diego Section Division I standings.

Carlsbad (5-0) holds the No. 3 spot in Division I and is ranked No. 46 in California, according to MaxPreps. The Lancers face Dana Hills (9-6) at 5 p.m. Sage Creek (8-1) sits at No. 4 in Division I and No. 57 statewide, with a 7 p.m. match against Camarillo (6-1) in the Kamehameha Tournament.

The Carlsbad Unified School District Board of Trustees approved both Hawaii trips earlier this year. Sage Creek's trip to the Hawaii Island Labor Day Classic in Hilo was approved at the board's May 27 meeting, and Carlsbad's travel tournament in Hilo was approved June 10.

Lancers unbeaten through five matches

Carlsbad has dropped just two sets all season, winning 15 of 17 across five matches. The Lancers carry a 1-0 league mark and 4-0 non-league record into Thursday's matchup. Dana Hills, out of Dana Point, is ranked No. 20 in CIF Southern Section Division 3.

Carlsbad reached the CIF State Division II championship match in 2021, falling to Redwood of Larkspur 3-1, according to CIF State records. The Lancers finished that season 23-12.

Redmond powers Sage Creek's 8-1 start

Sage Creek junior Maddie Redmond has been the Bobcats' offensive engine. The San Diego Union-Tribune named Redmond its girls volleyball athlete of the week on Aug. 24 after she tallied 55 kills, 17 blocks and five aces at the West Coast Challenge.

The Bobcats' lone loss came Aug. 22, a 2-0 defeat to Steele Canyon of Spring Valley in a neutral tournament match. Sage Creek has won three straight since.

What's next

Both teams continue tournament play in Hawaii through the weekend, with Sage Creek's trip running through Saturday, Sept. 5, and Carlsbad's through Monday, Sept. 7. League schedules for both programs have not yet been announced.