October 07, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Palo Alto volleyball tops Gunn

by Keith Peters

The Palo Alto volleyball team made history last season by winning the program's first outright league title in school history.

This season, the Vikings have a new identity, a new league and have some plans of their own under coach Dave Huan.

Palo Alto improved to 3-2 in the SCVAL De Anza Division with a 21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21 victory over visiting Gunn on Tuesday night. The Vikings are 13-6 overall and find themselves in third place, a half game behind Mountain View (3-1) before Thursday night's match at Saratoga.

Palo Alto has a chance to overtake Mountain View when the teams meet Wednesday night in the Vikings' gym at 6:45 p.m.

"It wasn't our best match of the season, but the team managed to pull it out," Huan said. "I think our girls played a little nervous and tired at first. We had a long and tough practice the day before."

While the practice was physically draining, it apparently brought the team together.

"I felt that our team spirit, and focus, gave us the extra boost of energy we needed to earn the victory," Huan said. "We had a long discussion with each of the kids and the team as a whole, about what it means to be a good teammate. It really showed in our match against Gunn."

It's one thing to lose to your rival and it's even worse to do that in your own gym. The Vikings, however, would have neither as they battled back in the emotional match that shifted momentum after Paly took Game 2. Gunn rallied twice from deficits to take the lead, only to have Paly move ahead for good at 25-24.

The roof fell in on the Titans for good in Game 3 after they took a 10-7 lead. Paly went on two runs behind senior Becca Hagemann and junior Lindsey Spiegelman. Hagemann finished with a team-high 19 kills and 13 digs with Spiegelman contributing 11 kills and 20 digs. Gunn (2-2, 8-8) was led by senior Alex Graves and junior Samantha Rohman. Graves had 22 kills and Rohman added 10.

While Palo Alto and Gunn battle for potential Central Coast Section playoff berths, Menlo School has its eye on defending its PAL Bay Division title. The Knights are off to a 5-0 start (11-9 overall) following a 25-17, 25-22, 25-20 win over visiting Aragon on Tuesday. It was Menlo's seventh-straight victory under first-year coach Chris Crader.

Natalie Sandman led Menlo with 14 kills while Nicole Curatola added 10 kills. Ali Lycette contributed five kills, nine digs and two aces.

Sandman and Curatola sparked Game 1, while Abby Whelan's two kills sparked a five-point outburst in Game 2. After an early 2-2 deadlock in Game 3, Allie Zamaria served the Knights to a 14-2 advantage with help from Sandman's six kills and Curatola's three.

Menlo has lost only one game during the seven-match win streak and remains the only undefeated team in the Bay Division.

Menlo-Atherton (2-2, 11-12) remained within playoff contention with a 25-19, 27-25, 17-25, 18-25, 16-14 marathon win over San Mateo. Senior Lori Maumasi paced the Bears with 17 kills while teammate Ann Sbardellati added 11 kills and give blocks. Erin Crowley contributed 24 assists for M-A.

In the West Bay Athletic League, Castilleja (4-0, 18-4) still tops the league following an easy 25-7, 25-11, 25-13 win over ICA on Tuesday. Senior outside hitter Ariel Baxterback paced the Gators with 12 kills, 10 digs and nine aces. Chelsea Ono-Horn added six kills.

Pinewood (1-1) bounced back from a loss to King's Academy last week to beat Fremont Christian, 25-12, 25-19, 25-14, behind 16 kills by Sam Andreacchi.

Cross country

Castilleja ran away with the team crown during a WBAL meet at San Bruno Park on Wednesday. The Gators scored 29 points, putting five runners among the top 11. Ashley Schoettle paced Castilleja with a winning time of 17:20 over the 2.4-mile course.

Many of the top teams and runners will be in action Saturday at the annual Serra Invitational at Crystal Springs in Belmont, site of this season's CCS championships.

Boys soccer

Sacred Heart Prep (7-1-1, 9-4-1) kept its grip on first place in the PSAL with a crucial 1-0 win over visiting Woodside Priory on Tuesday.

The teams battled to a scoreless first half before Cory Hatton decided the contest with a penalty kick just into the second half.

"It was a good effort," SHP coach Juan Camahort told his players. "We're still in first place."

The win capped a testing week for the Gators, who played four matches in seven days - including three in five.

SHP had numerous opportunities to score against Priory, but defenders like Jay Sohn and Geoff Taylor did a good job helping keeper Tynan McCauley repell the Gators.

Sacred Heart's defense also stood out with Garrick Yuen solid in goal, Cory Hatton controlling things at midfield and Kevin Bocci joining with Keegan Leary providing stopping action in the back.

Girls tennis

Sacred Heart Prep took its best shot at defending CCS champion Monta Vista, but came up just short during a 4-3 nonleague loss on Wednesday in Atherton.

The teams battled to a 3-3 deadlock, leaving the outcome to be decided at No. 4 singles where SHP senior Mollie Parker and Tiffany Nguyen were locked in a three-set battle.

Parker took the match to the very end before finally falling, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (7-2).

"Overall, the girls competed really well," said SHP coach Losaline Mafileo. "It's the best I have seen them compete all season. If we continue to compete at this level, we will grove and be successful."

SHP sophomore Haley Hemm battled back from a second-set loss to post a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles after junior Sam Rosekrans fairly breezed to a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 1 singles.

The Gators' young No. 3 doubles team of Jenny MacGregor and Erin McMahon proved a third point with a 6-3, 6-4 win.

Sacred Heart's Lauren Evans fell at No. 3 singles in three sets and the team of Edita Robinson and Kammy Evans also dropped a three-setter at No. 2 doubles as SHP fell to 10-5 overall.

The Gators, however, still lead the West Catholic Athletic League at 6-0 after a 6-1 win over host Sacred Heart Cathedral on Tuesday.

In the PAL Bay Division, defending champion Menlo improved to 9-0 (14-3 overall) with a 5-2 win at Terra Nova on Monday and a 7-0 win over Aragon on Tuesday. The Knights play a split squad for alternating matches.

Boys water polo

While Palo Alto is playing this season without a home pool, the Vikings nonetheless will host its annual invitational today and Saturday, at Menlo-Atherton and Sacred Heart Prep.

The Vikings will play Valley Christian today at 2 p.m. and Carlmont at 4 p.m., both at Sacred Heart Prep. At Menlo-Atherton, Gunn and Menlo-Atherton will meet today at 2 p.m., with Gunn facing Woodside at 3 p.m. and M-A taking on Woodside at 5 p.m.

The championship match will be Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep at 6 p.m.

The Vikings (4-0, 8-9) tuned up for the invitational by swamping host Saratoga on Wednesday, 17-2, in SCVAL De Anza Division action as senior Mike Sorgenfrei led the victory with eight goals.

Gunn (3-1, 10-7) remained in contact with the Vikings with a 13-6 win over host Cupertino as Brandon Johnson scored five goals and fellow senior Ronan Arthur added three.

Sacred Heart Prep (3-0, 13-3) tuned up for Tuesday's showdown against visiting Bellarmine (3:30 p.m.) by toppling visiting Valley Christian, 13-4. Senior Randy Ang led the Gators with five goals.

Girls water polo

Palo Alto (2-0, 13-7) remained atop the De Anza Division standings with a 14-1 rout of Saratoga as senior Phoebe Champion burned the nets for seven goals.

Gunn (1-1, 7-7) got six goals from Di Eaton in a 14-6 win at Cupertino.

Menlo-Atherton (1-0, 10-5) opened PAL Bay Division play with a 15-5 romp over host San Mateo as the Bears' Kelly Eaton tallied eight goals.

Sacred Heart Prep (3-0, 15-1) followed up its big win in the NorCal Champions tourney last weekend by routing Valley Christian, 18-2, in WCAL action. Seniors Christie Clark and Kimi Stephens paced the Gators with four goals apiece.

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