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Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Hello, Volley!: Presentation's Jennifer Joines (No. 9) slams the ball past two Monta Vista players in the CCS semifinals. The Panthers went on to beat Mitty in the CCS title match.
Rams in section polo semis
By Dick Sparrer
It's been quite a journey for the Willow Glen girls water polo team.
And the Rams are hoping to reach their destination this weekend with a berth in the Central Coast Section championship game.
The trip began just two years ago when the Willow Glen girls suffered through a winless season in league play. The Rams turned that record around last year by going undefeated in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
All that meant, though, was a move into the tougher Mt. Hamilton Division for the Rams.
But Willow Glen responded in impressive fashion. The Rams cruised through league to finish in first place in the regular season, then beat Presentation, Leland and Castilleja in the league tournament to win the championship.
"It was a well-fought tournament," said WG coach Scott Kaubish. "That was quite an achievement for [the Rams]."
But Willow Glen's not finished yet. The Rams, seeded No. 5 in the CCS playoffs, opened the postseason with wins over Santa Cruz and Saratoga to move into the CCS semifinals this week against St. Francis.
Willow Glen will face off with the Lancers on Nov. 26, 1:20 p.m., at West Valley Community College in the semis. Palo Alto and Menlo meet at 2:40 p.m. at West Valley in the other semifinal game. The two winners will then collide on Nov. 27, 11:45 a.m., for the CCS championship.
The Rams earned their place in Friday's game with back-to-back wins over Santa Cruz and Saratoga last week.
Courtney Livak tossed in three goals and Kristin Livak added two to drive the Rams to a 7-1 win over Santa Cruz to open the tournament. Whitney Gregg and Tracy Harding also scored in the win.
C. Livak and Alicia Barreto jammed home two goals apiece to lead the Rams to the 8-2 win over Saratoga in the quarter-finals. Gregg, K. Livak, Harding and Kara Buchanan added goals for the winners.
"That was a tough game," said Kaubish of the win over the Falcons. "We'd lost to them two times before. But the girls have really stepped it up."
Goalkeeper Allison Woodside played a key role in the win with 10 saves, including seven in the first half.
"That was really demoralizing for Saratoga," said Kaubish of Woodside's first-half saves. "She's just been on fire in the last five or six games we've won in a row."
The coach praised the work of Buchanan and Harding in the win.
"They've stepped up defensively and have also put some goals in for us," said the coach. Buchanan scored Willow Glen's first goal against the Falcons and Harding pitched in the fourth goal.
"Every goal was key in those first five goals," said Kaubish. "That helped keep the momentum away from them."
The Rams now take a 19-10 season record up against the Lancers this Friday.
Panthers win CCS
The Presentation girls volleyball team slammed rival Mitty 15-7, 13-15, 15-2, 15-12 last weekend to claim the CCS Division I championship. The Panthers, who will take their 35-3 into the Northern California opener on Nov. 23 at home, snapped a string of eight straight CCS championships for Mitty with the victory.
Presentation, a CCS Division III champ last year, was led by Sarah Nadler, Jennifer Joines and Amie Pfeiffer in the win.
Nadler had 17 kills and nine blocks to go with 18 digs in the match and Joines had 14 kills and seven blocks along with 18 digs. Pfeiffer supported with 20 digs and 10 kills.
Pfeiffer had 12 kills and 16 digs and Lindsey Sanford added 13 kills, 10 digs and three blocks in a 17-15, 15-6, 11-15, 15-9 win over Monta Vista in the CCS semifinals.
Presentation had opened CCS with an easy 15-0, 15-3, 15-2 win over Independence.
Lynzy Caton and Paige DeSmet are other key members of the Presentation squad.
Mustangs in semis
Junior quarterback Tim Scheffer hooked up on 10 of 17 passes for 193 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Pioneer football team to a 37-7 win over King City in the first round of the CCS Division IV playoffs.
The Mustangs, 9-2 for the year, will now face San Lorenzo Valley on Nov. 26, 1 p.m., at De Anza Community College in Cupertino in the semifinals.
Scheffer tossed to senior wide receiver Brian Davis six times for 78 yards and a touchdown, and he also hit Mike Wiens, Jacob French and Sean Sarsfield with TD tosses.
Wiens led the ground attack with 81 yards on 13 carries, and junior fullback Kyle Terry had 32 tough yards on seven tries.
Seniors Landers Niven and Sal Baglione and juniors Adam Ferla and Nick Davalle led a defensive effort that held King City to just 165 yards and forced five turnovers.
Garcia in top 20
Sara Garcia of Presentation nailed a place in the top 20 at the Central Coast Section golf championships played at Rancho Cañada East in Carmel on Nov. 1.
Garcia carded a solid 92 on the tough course to tie for 16th with Tara Chappell of Carmel.
Adams runs at state
Patrick Adams of Pioneer will be in the running at the state high school cross country championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 27.
Adams earned his place in the state meet by placing fourth overall in the CCS Division IV boys championships on Nov. 13 at Crystal Springs in Belmont. Adams was fourth in 16:46 on the 2.95-mile course. He had finished first in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, running 17:07 on the same course at Crystal Springs.
Barnes at CCS
Talented Kimmie Barnes of Pioneer opened play this week in the CCS girls tennis tournament that was to begin Monday at Courtside in Los Gatos, weather permitting.
Barnes, a junior, finished first in the Santa Teresa Division finals and nailed third in the BVAL finals to clinch a berth at CCS.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
