High School Playoffs : Top-Seeded Poway Wins Easily in Volleyball Opener

The top-seeded and undefeated Poway High School girls’ volleyball team had no problem in its opening match of the San Diego Section Division I playoffs at Poway Tuesday night.

After a first-round bye, Poway (21-0) defeated Mt. Miguel, seeded 32nd, 15-0, 15-3, 15-5, as Paige Smith and Julie Schwan each had 10 kills.

Poway, which used its starters only in the first game, will play host to Madison Thursday at 7 p.m. Madison defeated Chula Vista, 15-3, 15-5, 15-1, Tuesday.

In other Division I second-round matches:

Helix d. Castle Park, 15-6, 15-4, 15-10--Seventh-seeded Helix improved to 26-4 as Ali Pniak had 9 kills and Karrie Downey had 5 aces. Helix will play host to Vista in the third round.

Vista d. Grossmont, 15-13, 15-11, 15-10--Defending Section 3-A champion Grossmont got 12 kills from Sara Gruer, but it wasn’t enough as Vista, behind Chris Enger, won at Grossmont. Grossmont finished 15-13.

Monte Vista d. Southwest, 15-5, 15-3, 15-7--Seniors Wendee Phenix and Missy Shepard led ninth-seeded Monte Vista at Monte Vista. Phenix had 8 kills, and Shepard had 4 aces. Monte Vista will play at Mar Vista Thursday at 7 p.m.

Mar Vista d. San Marcos, 15-10, 15-6, 11-15, 15-6--Natalie Langley had 15 kills for eighth-seeded Mar Vista (21-2).

Torrey Pines d. El Capitan, 15-4, 15-0, 15-10--No. 2 Torrey Pines, behind 10 kills from Jennifer Meredith and 7 blocks from Lisa Jhung, had little trouble at Torrey Pines. In the third game, Torrey Pines played with a freshman and 3 starters. The reserve team fell behind 3-6 before regrouping to outscore El Capitan, 12-4. Torrey Pines (27-3, with all 3 losses to Poway) Thursday will play host to Mira Mesa, a 15-9, 15-5, 15-12 winner over Hilltop.

Serra d. Morse 15-11, 10-15, 15-12, 3-15, 15-13--Lynn Patrick had 19 kills and Jennifer Codling 18 as third-seeded Serra (23-5) struggled at home. The score was tied at 13 in the fifth game when, with Patrick serving, Serra scored the final 2 points. Serra will play host Patrick Henry (a 15-7, 15-8, 15-12 winner over Valhalla) in the third round. Serra has won two close City Eastern League matches with Patrick Henry this year.

San Pasqual d. Orange Glen, 9-15, 15-12, 15-2, 15-7--Blair Noonan had 20 kills for fifth-seeded San Pasqual, which Thursday will play Bonita Vista. Bonita Vista defeated San Dieguito, 15-7, 15-10, 9-15, 15-8.

Rancho Buena Vista d. University City, 15-7, 15-12, 15-10--Middle hitter Aurora Van Sickle was about all RBV needed. Van Sickle, a junior, had 13 kills, 13 service points (9 aces) and 6 solo blocks for RBV (19-9). RBV will play at sixth-seeded Point Loma in the third round. Point Loma defeated Mission Bay, 15-8, 15-8, 13-15, 15-1.

In the first round of the girls’ tennis playoffs, the top seeds had the day off but begin play today. In Tuesday’s matches:

Tennis

First round

Division 3-A

Mira Mesa 7, Vista 3--Vista’s No. 1 Laura Richards defeated Angela Cruz, 6-2, 6-0, but Mira Mesa won on the strength of its doubles. Mira Mesa’s Jennifer Wilson and Teashi Shrum, Kerri McBeth and Gelyn deVera and Stephanie Jacobs and Lolita Guillot all swept their matches in two sets. Mira Mesa meets No. 2 Bonita Vista at Chula Vista today.

Monte Vista 7, Patrick Henry 4--Two three-set victories helped propel visiting Monte Vista over Patrick Henry. MV No. 2 singles Renee Rooks won, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, in a 2-hour match that had to be finished under the lights. The No. 3 doubles team of Susan Fitzer and Kristin Patrick won, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Monte Vista (16-1) meets No. 1 seed Torrey Pines today.

Serra 7.25, Coronado 3.75--On the strength of its doubles, Serra defeated the Islanders at Coronado. Serra’s Nicole Mattice and Nhu Truong defeated Justine Lesch and Kia Redondo, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Nikki Willett, Serra’s No. 1 singles player, defeated Marni Hunt, 6-3, 6-0. Serra (11-6) meets No. 3 San Dieguito today in Encinitas.

Mt. Carmel 11, Helix 0--Fifth seed Mt. Carmel was led by No. 1 Christine Rilovick at home. Rilovick defeated Helix’s Julie Pilkington, 6-1, 6-2. Mt. Carmel’s top doubles team of Abby Denosta and Tami Stephens also won easily. Mt. Carmel (12-8) meets No. 4 Poway today.

Division 2-A

Rancho Buena Vista 6.75, Grossmont 4.25--No. 8 RBV split its singles matches against Grossmont, 2-2, but won in doubles, 2-1. Janelle Harlan, who usually plays in the No. 2 slot for RBV, moved up to No. 1 and defeated Grossmont’s Anna Discenza, 6-3, 6-3. No. 1 doubles Lisa Williamson and Nancy Hodgkinson dropped its first set against Jenny Bobita and Jennifer Abrahamson but came back to win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. RBV (14-3) meets No. 1 Bishop’s today in La Jolla.

USDSH 7.25, Hoover 5.5--USDHS’s No. 3 doubles team of Tofoi Yandall and Anne Borgstrom pulled out the victory. Yandall and Borgstrom lost the first set but came back for a 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 victory.

USDSH has played Hoover for three consecutive years in the opening round of CIF and has beaten them handily until this year.

“This year they were much tougher,” Coach Jim Tomey said.

They will play last year’s CIF 2-A runner-up La Jolla today at La Jolla. USDHS (12-3) is 1-2 against La Jolla this season.