Sage Hill playing in another tough tournament
The Sage Hill girls’ volleyball team is heading to its third tough tournament in as many months. Next up for the Lightning is Torrey Pines’ NIKE California Challenge in San Diego.
The two-day tournament at Alliant International University starts Friday, with Sage Hill opening pool-play action with Poway at 4 p.m. The following two matches on the day are with Clovis East and San Juan Hills. Clovis East won the CIF Central Section Division I title last year, and San Juan Hills is ranked No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll.
The 32-team tournament also features Mater Dei, the top-ranked team in the country by MaxPreps.com’s computer rankings, as well as No. 7 Santa Margarita and No. 22 Los Angeles Marymount. Sage Hill has already played Mater Dei, losing at home in three sets on Aug. 30.
PERFECT IN LEAGUE
The Huntington Beach, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach and Sage Hill girls’ volleyball teams are undefeated in their respective leagues.
The Oilers go into their Sunset League match at Newport Harbor on Friday with a 4-0 mark. Dating back to 2013, Huntington Beach has won 17 league matches in a row.
Closing out the first part of league flawless shouldn’t be an issue against Newport Harbor, which is struggling at 4-17 overall and 1-3 in league. The Sailors look like they will miss the postseason for the second straight year, and the last time they didn’t qualify in consecutive years was in 1972-73, the first two years of the section playoffs.
The Sea Kings knocked off University on Thursday to improve to 5-0 at the midway point of Pacific Coast League play. They are looking to go undefeated in league for the eighth consecutive year.
Laguna Beach is 5-0 in Orange Coast League action, and it has never dropped a contest in league during the 11 years the league has existed.
Sage Hill has won each of its six Academy League contests. Next Wednesday Sage Hill has a showdown at rival St. Margaret’s.
NAMES, STATS AND YEARS
Ashley Humphreys totaled 30 kills, 35 assists, eight digs and four service aces, helping the CdM girls’ volleyball team edge host Beckman, 25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 21-25, 15-7, on Tuesday.
Chase Garbers threw for 315 yards and five touchdowns in the first half of the CdM football team’s 55-14 blowout of Trabuco Hills on Sept. 30. The Cal-bound quarterback did not play in the second half.
TaeVeon Le, a CdM wide receiver, went into this week ranked No. 2 in Orange County for receptions (38), receiving yards (637) and receiving touchdowns (10).
1,688 —Yards Los Amigos’ Steven Hernandez and Edgar Galindo combined to rush for during nonleague play.
998 – Yards Brethren Christian running back Jordan Leonard rushed for through six games, tops in the area.
96 — Wins in a row for the Laguna Beach girls’ volleyball team in the Orange Coast League.
79 — Wins in a row for the CdM girls’ volleyball team in the Pacific Coast League.
1979 — Last time Edison lost to Newport Harbor in football.
LOCALS RANKED
The CIF Southern Section polls feature four local football programs.
Edison is No. 2 in Division 3, CdM is No. 4 in Division 4, Brethren Christian is No. 8 in Division 10 and Ocean View is No. 10 in Division 13.
In girls’ volleyball, Division 1 has Huntington Beach at No. 5, followed by Edison at No. 6. Sage Hill comes in at No. 5 in Division 3.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE OUTLOOK
Below are my predictions on how the local girls’ volleyball teams will finish in their respective leagues:
Sunset League: 1. Huntington Beach; 2. Edison; 3. Los Alamitos; 4. Fountain Valley; 5. Newport Harbor; 6. Marina.
Pacific Coast League: 1. CdM; 2. Beckman; 3. Woodbridge; 4. Northwood; 5. University; 6. Irvine.
Academy League: 1. Sage Hill; 2. St. Margaret’s; 3. Crean Lutheran; 4. Brethren Christian; 5. Oxford Academy; 6. Whitney; 7. Downey Calvary Chapel.
Orange Coast League: 1. Laguna Beach; 2. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel; 3. Costa Mesa; 4. Estancia; 5. Godinez; 6. Saddleback.
Golden West League: 1. Segerstrom; 2. Ocean View; 3. Westminster; 4. Santa Ana; 5. Loara; 6. Orange.
Garden Grove League: 1. Garden Grove; 2. Bolsa Grande; 3. La Quinta; 4. Santiago; 5. Los Amigos; 6. Rancho Alamitos.
