San Pedro and Mary Star Of The Sea High School rarely meet in a nonleague sporting event. Any San Pedro team visiting Mary Star for a sporting event is even more rare.

However, on October 5, both rarities will be combined with a girls volleyball match.

With the Pirates returning all but five players from last year's team that went 13-11-1 with a third place Marine League finish at 9-3 in 2015, and the Stars returning practically the entire roster from last year's Co-Santa Fe League championship team that went 17-12 overall, 9-1 in league, this intriguing intersectional showdown set for October 5, 5 pm at Mary Star High will likely fill the Stars' gymnasium with some exciting volleyball.

"Honestly I am super excited," Mary Star senior outside hitter Lexi Andrie says. "It's an incredible opportunity for both schools and a fun experience as well. It will be a very intriguing match that will keep spectators on the edge of their seats."

Andrie is right on the money. 

The Stars, owners of 18 league championships (most in school history), have won two straight shares of the Santa Fe League championship with St. Genevieve ever since Tyler Jaynes took over the reigns as coach, and have also advanced past the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4-A playoffs.

San Pedro, who have won three CIF-Los Angeles City Section titles in 2001, 2004 & 2005, have also excelled the past two years under coach Chris Ceballos, who formerly coached at St. Bernard High in Playa Del Rey. In the past two years, Ceballos has scheduled a nonleague match for the Pirates against a Catholic school, defeating Cantwell Sacred Heart of Montebello in four games two years ago, and suffering a five-set loss at Serra of Gardena last year.

It almost seemed like destiny that an opening could occur for San Pedro and Mary Star to agree to a match.

"I'm looking forward to bring a presence in new places we haven't made a name in," San Pedro junior libero Alison Lyons said. "We as a team is looking forward to establish ourselves as a competitive and worthy team to look out for in the season."

Lyons is one of three returning All-Marine League selections for San Pedro, alongside four-year veteran and three-time All-Marine League outside hitter Katie Bentovoja, one of the most versatile players around.

Bentovoja also doubles up as a setter for the Pirates, who bring a lot of youth, but massive potential. Sophomore outside hitter Sara Peterson is another All-Marine League returner but you can't forget about junior outside hitters Selene Ramirez and Serena McGillivray, sophomore middle hitter Hadley Grooms and junior middle blocker Rebecca Alvarenga.

Mary Star counters with six All-Santa Fe League returners, including Andrie and the reigning two-time San Pedro News Pilot MVP, senior outside hitter Ally Spillane, the best pure attacker in town. The Stars will be senior-heavy in 2016, with ten on roster which also includes four more All-SFL returners in setter Angela Pisano, middle blocker Gianna Fletcher, opposite hitter Ticela Molio'o and sophomore libero Jena Denardo. Senior middle blocker Kaitlyn Martinez can also be a factor for the Stars. Martinez missed half of last season due to injury.

This won't be the first time the Stars hosted an intersectional match against a fellow neighbor, as they have won two straight matches against Port Of Los Angeles High the last two years, including a dominant three-game sweep a season ago.

"We have all been wanting this match (against San Pedro) for a while and we're all stoked that it's finally happening," Pisano said. "I'm so excited to play with my teammates, who are also my best friends."

San Pedro and Mary Star last met in a sporting event was only occurred by chance in the 2012 El Segundo softball tournament, where the Stars knocked off the Pirates, 3-1 behind a solid pitching performance from then-freshman Marina Vitalich, now starring as a sophomore at George Mason University, and is currently playing on the Croatian National Softball team alongside her sister Amanda in Barcelona, Spain.

The last San Pedro victory was 13-1 over Mary Star in baseball back in the 2010 El Segundo Tournament at the Stars' home, Fromhold Field.

"I know there's always been a lot of hype about the crosstown rivalry," Spillane says with cautious excitement. "But for me, I'm always looking for a new challenge and for that reason it makes it more exciting to get the win."

Both teams, needless to say, are eager for this match, which is also a triple-header at Mary Star as the Stars' added a freshman-sophomore team for 2016, which allows San Pedro to bring their freshman-sophomore and junior varsity teams as well for an even more broadening atmosphere.

"I feel the match itself is going to be competitive and a fun experience to enjoy," Peterson said. "I'm very excited for this match. It's go time."