The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Mustangs, Firebirds play well at Alisal

By Dick Sparrer

Los Gatos, Homestead and Fremont have plenty in common on the volleyball court this spring.

They all figure to be top teams in the Central Coast Section this season, they are all among the leaders in their respective league races, and they all played well at the recent Alisal Invitational.

But they all share another distinction--they all lost tough decisions to Clovis West at that tournament at Alisal.

Clovis West beat Fremont in the quarterfinals, Homestead in the semifinals and Los Gatos in the finals on its way to winning the team title in the rugged tournament.

Clovis West edged Los Gatos in a 15-10, 16-14 heartbreaker in the tourney title match. Gatos had crushed Harbor 15-6, 15-8 in the quarters and beat Lincoln 15-12, 15-11 in the semis to earn the spot in the finals.

Homestead lost a tough 16-14, 15-8 nod to Clovis West in the semifinals. The Mustangs, who had beaten Ripon Christian 15-8, 13-15, 15-13 in the quarterfinals, came back to whip Lincoln 15-6, 15-10 in the third-place match.

Fremont had beaten Mitty 15-9, 15-12 to advance to the tourney quarterfinals, but lost to Clovis West 15-4, 15-10 to face elimination.

The three clubs were each represented on the all-tournament team at the event's conclusion. Keith Busam and Grant Schlink of Los Gatos, Aaron Mansfield and Jeremy Britt of Homestead and Ben Skinner of Fremont all earned all-tourney honors.

In league play last week, Homestead and Fremont each won a pair of matches.

The Firebirds went four games to beat Gunderson 15-8, 12-15, 15-3, 15-9 and went four more to take Del Mar 15-10, 12-15, 15-11, 15-3. Fremont is now 7-1 in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. The Firebirds are 11-6 for the year.

Homestead upped its record to 20-6 for the year with wins over Mitty and St. Ignatius. The Mustangs handled the Monarchs 15-2, 15-2, 15-10, then took care of SI 15-10, 15-2, 15-10. Homestead is 5-3 in the West Catholic Athletic League.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, April 15, 1998.
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