The Amador Valley High School boys varsity volleyball team garnered impressive wins last weekend, defeating the No. 1 seeded College Park in three games.
The Dons won the 16-team Deer Valley Invitational with scores of 23-25, 25-20 and 16-14.
The successes came after a grueling 12-hour day in with the Dons emerged second in pool play after beating Oak Ridge and Antioch, and suffering a loss to Northgate.
Buoyed by afternoon victories against Deer Valley and Monte Vista, Amador faced off against the College Park Falcons in the final. College Park had won on all of its matches, and all but one in two sets.
The Falcons and Dons played evenly in the early going of the first set, but then College Park racked up seven points from a single server, putting Amador on its heals. Outside hitters Jacob and John Buchenauer, setter Colin Harper, middle Tyler Von Pein, oppo Mike Corbin and libero Tim Gaisor were firing on all cylinders in the second game, and built a comfortable lead with a combined 10 kills, three blocks, and an ace from Tyler Christensen. A string of early hitting and serving errors by the Falcons gave the Dons momentum in the final game, but a seesaw battle began from the 11-point mark forward. An ace from Corbin, and kills from John Rodriguez and Jake Buchenauer kept the Dons in the hunt. A kill from Von Pein, followed by a setting error by the Falcons blocked by John Buchenauer brought home the plaque for Amador.
Tournament results: Amador vs Oak Ridge: 25-15, 15-25, 17-15; Amador vs Antioch: 25-18, 25-18; Amador vs Northgate: 21-25, 26-28; Deer Valley: 25-21, 25-20; Monte Vista: 25-22; 25-20; College Park: 23-25; 25-20; 16-14. Record overall: 9-2; EBAL: 2-0
Blizzard gets first win of the season
The Pleasanton girls lacrosse Blizzard (fifth- to sixth-grade) came out on top last Saturday with the team’s first win of the season against South Marin Wolfpack, 5-2.The game took off with an assist from Brianna Armario to Haley Brodnick for the first goal of the game. Maddie Aston’s speed took the Blizzard down the field to score and end the half with a two-point lead. Haley Brodnick and Annelise Dutcher’s aggressive play clinched the win with goals scored in the second half. Goalies Meghan Serrano and Lauren Caldwell made great saves at the net to keep the Wolfpack at bay. Excellent defensive play by Jaime Rinetti and Whitney Carter throughout the game.
In game two against the Lamorinda Fire, the Blizzard top scorers were Brodnick, Dutcher and Aston. Great saves by goalies Meghan Serrano and Lauren Caldwell. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
Amador shuts down Miramonte with big first half
The Amador girls varsity lacrosse team used their high-powered offense, fueled by UC Berkeley-bound Melissa Sheehan’s six goals, to down visiting Miramonte, 12-2, last Friday.Junior Kara Bijesse recorded her second hat trick in as many games, and added an assist. Amanda Nespor contributed two goals and an assist, while Teresa Li netted her first goal of the 2008 season. Senior goalkeeper Ana Martinez was solid in the net, with five saves on the night.
The Lady Dons dominated the first half from whistle to whistle, outplaying Miramonte on both ends of the field. Melissa Sheehan started the offensive onslaught, scoring her first goal of the non-league contest at the 24:27 mark. A minute later, sophomore attack Teresa Li put one in the net, and then at the 22:48 mark, the Miramonte goalie fumbled the ball in an attempt to save a shot. The ball rolled to the back of the net for an Amador score. The goal was awarded to Amanda Nespor, and the Lady Dons were up 3-0 less than three minutes into the game.
Miramonte quickly called a time out to regroup, but Amador was unfazed. The Lady Dons scored the next three points on two goals by Sheehan (assisted by Nespor and Bijesse respectively), and a goal by Bijesse. The Lady Matadors managed to get on the board with 8:57 left in the half, but Amador went on another three-goal run.
The scoring slowed down in the second half, but the Lady Dons lead was never in jeopardy, thanks to a great defensive effort throughout the game by Brittany Schoen, Kerry McCulloch, Allie Zachariades and Jessica Daut. Colee Evangelista, Amelia Major, Julia Frizzell and Morgan Dorsey saw time in this half, combining for several ground ball and draw controls. Miramonte managed one more goal with 11 minutes to play, but Sheehan fired one last shot past the Mats goalie to cement the 12-2 victory.
Sheehan had a great all-around game–in addition to her six points, she had four ground balls, three caused turnovers, and won four draws. McCulloch led the team in ground balls with six, followed by Zachariades and Bijesse with five each, and Li with four. Schoen had two ground balls and a turnover. Daut had two interceptions and two ground balls.
WCOGA boys storm states with two championship titles
The West Coast Olympic Gymnastics Academy of Pleasanton came home with two state titles in the Men’s Junior Olympic State Championship held last weekeend at Ronald McNair High School in Stockton.Chris Turner of Fremont won the level 10 all-around state title after winning parallel bars, rings, high bar and vault. Christopher Siebel, an 11-year old-from Dublin who attends Wells Middle School, took the all-around level 8 state title after winning parallel bars. He took seconds on rings and floor and a third on pommel horse.
The WCOGA level 10 team who won the level 10 team title include: John-Nathan Monteclaro of San Ramon, who came in third place all-around after earning a third on pommel horse and parallel bars; Ethan Jose, a level 10 from Fremont, who came in fourth all-around after earning a second on rings and a third on high bar; Alex Ganz, a level 10 from Danville, who came in sixth overall after earning a second on parallel bars; and Mark Ringle, of San Ramon, who came in sixth place overall after taking a third on rings and high bar.
The level 9 team also performed well, coming in second place. Justin Woo and Jonathon Liu both tied for third place all-around. Woo earned a first on pommel and a second on rings and bars. Liu took a second on floor and a third on high bar. Travis Gollott came in eight place all-around.
The following eight members, after placing in the top six all-around, earned a spot on the California Regional Select All-Star Team which will compete against Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii at the regional championships in Reno, Nev. the first weekend of April: Chris Turner, Ethan Jose, Alex Ganz, Mark Ringle, John-Nathan Monteclaro, Justin Woo, Jonathon Liu and Christopher Siebel.
The WCOGA boy’s team is coached by Vince Miller, a veteran in the sport with close to 40 state titles, several national champions and who serves as a current staff member of the Junior Olympic team.
WCOGA girls place in Novato Classic
The West Coast Olympic Gymnastics Academy girls team competed at theNovato Classic last Saturday.
Results: Katelyn Kleinheinz Level 7, Vault 8.575, Bars 9.05 (second), Beam 9.325 (second), Floor 9.10 (third), All Around 36.05 (fourth)
–Doreen Aubel
