Rose Garden Resident

Sports

Lincoln girls win division volleyball championship

By Dick Sparrer

It was more than just a typical Tuesday evening volleyball match when the Prospect girls came to call at Lincoln last week--the championship in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League was on the line.

The Lions and Panthers entered the match tied for first place in the division with matching 9-3 records, so the winner would have the inside track on the division crown.

Lincoln, as it turns out, was up for the challenge.

The Lions needed just four games to dispose of the Panthers 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19 behind a 14 kill night by talented 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker Alex Scoffone.

Lincoln came back to beat Overfelt 25-19, 15-25, 25-17, 25-12 two nights later to secure its hold on the championship. Scoffone had 20 kills in that one.

By winning the championship, Lincoln clinched a place in the Central Coast Section Division II playoffs. The Lions, seeded No. 13 with an 18-10 season record, were to open CCS play against No. 4 Aptos (30-5) on Nov. 8 with the winner to meet the No. 12 Sequoia (12-14)-No. 5 Palo Alto (25-8) winner on Nov. 11, 5 p.m., at Aptos.

It's been quite a run for the Lions. They opened the year with four losses in six tries in non-league play, then lost three straight to open the league season. They were sporting a dismal 3-7 record overall when they dramatically turned their season around.

Lincoln closed out league play with 11 straight victories to claim the Santa Teresa Division championship, clinching that title with the two wins last week. The Lions beat Prospect twice in league play, and they're only stumbles in the division were early losses to Independence, Silver Creek and Santa Teresa.

Scoffone, Tarah Herning, Silvia Aguilar and Breanna Lane have been Lincoln leaders this fall.

Scoffone, also a basketball standout for the Lions, is the club leader in kills, blocks and digs.

Herning, a 5-foot-6 junior setter, tops the squad in assists and service aces.

Lane, a 5-foot-5 junior outside hitter, is Lincoln's service receiving leader along with Aguilar, a 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter. Aguilar also ranks among the team leaders in digs, blocks, kills and service receiving, and Lance figures among the team's best in digs.

Junior Alex Von Raesfeld, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker, is also listed among the leaders in kills and blocks, and sophomore Trishna Kumar ranks high in service receiving.