Sports Wrap Sports Wrap (October 08, 2004)

Eagles end streak, take second place

Los Altos ended its 20-game winning streak, one of the longest in Eagle volleyball history, with a second-place finish at the competitive Menlo-Atherton Tournament on Oct. 2.

Los Altos was the number-one seed of 28 teams entering the playoffs. After close victories over Live Oak (25-19, 25-19) and Westmont (25-17, 29-27), the Eagles faced a fired-up Marin Academy team in the finals.

Up 23-17 in the first game, Los Altos faltered on its serve reception and fell 26-24. Physically fatigued and emotionally drained, the Eagles struggled through game two, losing 25-19 and taking second place.

Senior team captains Lauren Schaefer and Michelle Nelson were named to the All-Tournament team.

Schaefer led the tournament with 51 kills and 12 blocks. Emily Saliba also earned 33 kills.

The Eagles are now 22-2 overall and 3-0 in league. On Oct. 12, they will travel to Gunn.

Spartan water polo rallies

The Mountain View boys water polo team extended its record to 7-2 by overcoming Wilcox 13-11 on Sept. 30.

Coach Rafael Alapont credited an outstanding team effort for the come-from-behind 13-11 victory over last year's El Camino Division champions.

"The players are starting to buy into my system, and I am pleased with the outcome," Alapont said. "It takes courage to come from behind."

On Oct. 12, the Spartans face Santa Clara at home.

Mountain View dominates in Homecoming game

Mountain View began its football season on Oct. 1 with a 29-0 Homecoming victory over Santa Clara.

Brandon Hamilton opened the game with a 36-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jon Warmbrodt, ending a 61-yard march in the first quarter. Hamilton also scored in the third quarter and again in the fourth.

During the second quarter, a Santa Clara fumble recovered by Mountain View was turned into a touchdown by Alec Nelson.

Dustin Johnson led the Spartan defense with five sacks.

Mountain View's next game will be away at Los Altos on Oct. 16.

Rhythmic gymnast training at high level

For the third year in a row, Mountain View resident and Egan School seventh grader Erin Hicks has been invited to train at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Hicks regularly trains at Gold Star Gymnastics in Mountain View.

At the end of this month, Hicks and her coach, Emily Tse, will fly to New York to join the Rhythmic Gymnastics Future Stars Training Camp. They will spend four days at the camp working with the USA Gymnastics National team coaching staff along with 20 other gymnasts aged 7-12.

Each year, USA Gymnastics conducts a talent search testing children from across the country in search of potential elite-level rhythmic gymnasts. The girls are judged on jumps and leaps, turns, balance, flexibility, acrobatics, speed and strength.

This year, only 21 girls were selected for the team, the smallest ever.

Correction

In the Oct. 1 edition of the Voice,St. Francis cross-country athlete Ben Sitler was identified as a senior. He is, in fact, a very fast junior. The Voice regrets the error.

-- Colleen Corcoran

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