The Cupertino Courier

Vikes tops in volleyball

Homestead reaches finals of Gunn Invitational

By Dick Sparrer

Lynbrook is starting to pull away.

And the other girls' volleyball teams in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League can't seem to do anything about it.

The Vikings put some distance between them and the other teams in the division with two more wins last week. The Vikes powered to an easy win over Santa Clara, then backed that up with a key victory over Cupertino.

Lynbrook, behind the play of 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter Michelle Buffum and senior middle blocker Susie Perry rolled to an easy 15-4, 15-1, 15-11 win over Santa Clara to open play last week.

The Vikings came back to beat Cupertino 17-15, 15-9, 15-7 in a key division battle, with Buffum, Perry and Lyndsey Cleaveland leading the way.

Lynbrook improved to 6-0 in the division and 16-2 overall with the win, but more importantly stuck Cupertino with its third loss. Only Milpitas remains as a threat to the Vikings. The Trojans are 4-1 in league play.

Cupertino slipped to 3-3 in the division and 12-8 for the year.

It was the second loss for the Pioneers, who had opened the week with a tough five-game loss to Gunn.

"It was a wild one," said Cupertino coach Marty Redman of the match with the Titans that lasted almost three hours. "It was a real emotional roller coaster."

'Tino lost the first game 15-9, but won the next two 15-10, 17-15 to take the lead. But the Titans won the last two games 15-8, 15-11 to clinch the win.

"But at least now we know that we can play with the big boys," said Redman, "because we just did."

Erica Boss starred for the Pioneers in the match with 16 points, 11 aces, 22 kills and 26 digs.

"She was the best player on the floor," said Redman of his junior star.

Denise Stewart supported with 10 kills, and she was 16 for 16 at the service line. Katlyn Moran was 20 for 20 at the line with 16 aces. In all, the Pioneers were good on 114 of 120 serves for 95 percent.

The Pioneers were coming off of a 15-10, 15-12, 15-12 win over Santa Clara. Boss had 15 kills, Stewart 10 kills and five blocks, Kathryn Auch 25 assists and Melanie Rekeita eight points and Margaret Le was 12 for 12 at the line.

Freshman Margaret Donoghue, who hadn't served all year, aced her only serve of the match.

"After a great game against Saratoga, we seemed to let down against Santa Clara," said Redman. "But we played well enough to win."

In other local action, Homestead made it to the finals of the Gunn Invitational last weekend before losing to Mountain View in the championship match.

The Mustangs, led by Donna Tripiano and Erin Norcia, opened the tourney with a 15-2, 15-6 win over Indio, then beat Leigh 15-6, 15-12. Homestead knocked off University High of San Francisco 15-12, 15-9 in the semifinals before falling 15-6, 13-15, 15-12 to Mountain View in the title match.

Homestead, now 10-9 for the year, had beaten Mountain View 15-10, 14-16, 15-2, 15-13 in De Anza Division play earlier in the week. But the Mustangs lost 15-0, 15-9, 15-2 a few days later to slip to 2-3 in league play.

In other De Anza Division action, Monta Vista split a pair of matches last week. The Matadors, led by Heather Janssen, Allison Thee and Stephanie Knopp, beat Palo Alto 19-17, 15-13, 15-7 to climb to 2-3 in the division and to 11-10 for the year.

The Mats had lost a 15-2, 15-5, 15-4 decision to unbeaten Los Gatos to open the week.

[ Back to Contents Page | Cupertino Courier Home Page | Archives ]