Palo Alto turning it around Palo Alto turning it around (September 16, 2005)

Boys' water polo upends Gunn, 9-4, to start the league season

by Keith Peters

Jon Barnea has been patient, figuring the odds one day would turn in his favor. For the past two years, they haven't, as his Palo Alto boys' water polo team has suffered one loss after another.

In Barnea's first season, the Vikings went 8-23 in 2003. Last season showed a marked improvement as Paly finished 14-18. Still, the team failed to reach the Central Coast Section playoffs, where the Vikings have captured four section titles since 1989.

If Paly's 9-4 victory over rival Gunn on Wednesday in the SCVAL De Anza Division opener for both teams is any indication, however, perhaps things have turned around for Barnea and his Vikings.

"Paly has radically improved from last year," said Gunn coach Mark Hernandez. "Jon Barnea does a fine job with his boys."

Palo Alto used a standout effort from sophomore goalie Will Simon (he had 18 saves), spread the offense around with five players scoring and took advantage of some key Gunn absences to improve to 3-3 overall.

The Titans (0-1, 3-3) started the match, held at Sacred Heart Prep, without starter Kyle Gertridge. He was issued a red card in last season's CCS Division I title game loss to Bellarmine - forcing him to miss the league opener in 2005.

"We were pretty banged up (with illnesses and injuries), so losing Kyle put us in a tough spot," Hernandez said. "We knew that we had to execute on defense, and we did in the first quarter; we were up 2-0. At halftime, we were down 4-3. In the third, Brandon Johnson and Eric Stewart earned their third ejections each, and that pretty much sealed the game."

Paly's aggressive play, of course, had plenty to do with drawing the ejections on Johnson (Gunn's leading scorer) and Stewart. With those two out, Palo Alto scored three unanswered goals in the third period to grab a 7-3 lead. Seniors Mike Sorgenfrei, Eric Vallone and Gregor Horstmeyer appropriately provided the scores that clinched the win.

Sorgenfrei led the way with three goals while Vallone and Tyler Thompson added two apiece.

Both teams will take part in the annual Scott Roche Invitational today and Saturday at Menlo College and Burlingame High. Gunn opens at Menlo against Live Oak at 1:40 p.m., following matchups between Menlo and Leland (noon) and Sacred Heart Prep against Menlo-Atherton (12:50 p.m.). Menlo (4-1) and SHP (4-1) are expected to meet in a second-round match at 4:20 p.m., while Gunn should meet St. Francis at 6 p.m.

Palo Alto will be at Burlingame High, opening against Los Altos at 2:40 p.m. A win, however, earns the Vikings a second-round game against Bellarmine at 7 p.m.

The championship game will be Saturday at Menlo at 4:15 p.m.

While most of the top CCS boys teams are playing, nearly all the best CCS girls will be competing in the annual St. Francis Invitational both days.

Sacred Heart Prep (0-0) and Castilleja (2-5) open today at 2:50 p.m. at St. Francis, with Menlo (3-0) taking on Lynbrook at 2 p.m. at Lynbrook High, followed by Palo Alto (3-2) and St. Ignatius at 3:40 p.m.

The championship match will be Saturday at St. Francis at 4 p.m.

Boys soccer

Sacred Heart Prep bounced back from last weekend's 1-3 showing in the Del Campo Invitational in Sacramento with a 7-0 win over host Pinewood on Tuesday in Private Schools Athletic League action. The Gators (3-0, 4-3) got three goals from Cory Hatton, who two weeks ago suffered a dislocated shoulder while kicking for the SHP football team.

Girls tennis

A big early season match takes place today when Sacred Heart Prep (5-3) visits Menlo (6-3) in nonleague action at 3:15 p.m.

The Gators are coming off a very important 4-3 victory over West Catholic Athletic League rival Mitty on Wednesday at Sacred Heart. Both teams are expected to contend for the league title and postseason honors this season.

The Monarchs reportedly had more depth than the Gators, and it appeared to show up when SHP lost at No. 3, 4 and 5 singles. After SHP pulled within 4-2 following wins at No. 1 and 2 singles by Sam Rosekrans (6-4, 6-4) and Haley Hemm (6-2, 6-4), Sacred Heart wrapped things up when the doubles teams of Mollie Parker and Nicky Budd-Thanos plus freshmen Edita Robinson and Kammy Evans posted straight-set wins.

In a De Anza Division opener, Palo Alto junior Chrissy Hu upended Saratoga's talented freshman Kelly Lamble, 7-5, 6-2, but the Vikings noneless fell to the host Falcons, 6-1.

Girls volleyball

Castilleja, Palo Alto, Pinewood and Woodside Priory all posted convincing nonleague victories this week.

Castilleja (6-1) made quick work of visiting Sacred Heart Prep (13-2) on Tuesday night, 25-12, 25-9, 25-15. Seniors Alissa Flesher and Ariel Baxterbeck led the Gators with seven kills each.

Palo Alto (4-1) roughed up host Leigh on Tuesday, 25-21, 25-18, 25-23, as Erica Gage had 10 kills and eight blocks. Gage put up 10 blocks on Wednesday to spark a 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-23 win at Sequoia. Becca Hagemann added 10 kills and 15 digs while hitting .346.

Pinewood (4-4) welcomed back outside hitter Hannah Lippe, who had been limited to libero action while she was recuperating from off-season shoulder surgery. She produced nine kills in a 25-12, 25-9, 25-13 win over visiting St. Thomas More on Tuesday.

Woodside Priory (6-2) followed up its championship in its own tournament last weekend with a 25-8, 25-15, 25-22 win behind Chrisse Trudelle's hitting.

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