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Published on 11/09/1998 All articles from this issue

Semi-tough

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By Pete Borello

Town Crier Staff Writer

Four area teams make CCS semifinals

Girls Volleyball

Playoffs

One win and they're in. Four local high school volleyball teams are a win away from playing in the Central Coast Section finals.

St. Francis, Los Altos, Pinewood and Gunn all reached the semifinals of their respective divisions with victories last weekend.

St. Francis, the top seed in Div. II, walloped No. 8 Leland 15-5, 15-5, 15-7 Saturday at Santa Clara High.

The Lancers, considered the deepest and most talented team in the CCS, used a different line-up in each game. This explains why no player had more than five kills - a number reached by both Kelly Corbett and Bonnie Van Elderen.

"It was fun," said St. Francis coach Dave Gambelin. "I played 18 girls and made everyone happy."

Gambelin should be all smiles after his next match as well. The Lancers (34-1) take on No. 5 Salinas (20-13) at 8 p.m. today at Santa Clara. Salinas' chances of beating the defending CCS and state champs fall somewhere between slim and none.

Los Altos isn't expected to have much trouble with its Div. II semifinal opponent, either. No. 2 Los Altos (22-10) faces No. 3 King City (21-3) at 6 p.m. today at Santa Clara.

The Eagles qualified for the semis by thumping No. 7 North Salinas 15-12, 15-8, 15-2 Saturday at Santa Clara.

A win over King City would put Los Altos in the final against the buzz saw that is St. Francis. The Div. II title match is set for 8 p.m. Friday at West Valley College in Saratoga.

No. 2 Pinewood (22-2) is also a heavy favorite in its Div. V semifinal match against No. 3 King's Academy (20-13). Game time is 8 p.m. today at Mitty High in Santa Clara. The Panthers beat King's 3-0 earlier in the season.

"It's going to come down to executing on our side of the net," said Pinewood coach Evan Barth.

The Panthers did just that Saturday at Sacred Heart Prep, shellacking No. 7 St. Thomas More 15-2, 15-0, 15-3. Angie Riches had nine aces and five kills for Pinewood, while Lauren Smith-Hams recorded seven kills.

If the Panthers win tonight, they will likely meet No. 1 Sacred Heart in the final at 2 p.m. Saturday at West Valley.

No. 2 Gunn (33-6) had to win twice last week to qualify for Thursday's Div. III semifinal match with No. 8 Los Gatos (21-8). The match is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Leland High in San Jose.

On Nov. 11, host Gunn beat No. 15 Aragon 15-11, 15-5, 15-12. Amy Milo and Amy Cole each had 14 kills for the Titans.

Gunn then handled No. 10 Burlingame 15-8, 15-6, 17-15 Saturday at Santa Clara. Cole had 11 aces and teammate Jacqueline Heler racked up 19 kills.

If Gunn gets by Los Gatos, a team it lost to early in the year, the Titans would face either No. 12 Sacred Heart Cathedral or No. 1 Presentation for the title. The final will be at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at West Valley.

In other action, No. 6 Homestead bowed out in the quarterfinals of Div. I Saturday, falling 15-10, 15-10, 15-12 to No. 3 Aptos. Ellen Byron had 13 kills for the Mustangs (19-18).

No. 8 Woodside Priory, which has three players from Los Altos, lost 15-8, 15-2, 15-10 to host Sacred Heart Prep Saturday in a Div. V quarterfinal match. Woodside finishes 10-6 overall.