By Pete Borello

Prep Volleyball Summary

As the Homestead High girls volleyball team’s confidence rises, so does its chances of winning the SCVAL El Camino Division, claims coach John Milkovich.

“We’re playing with more confidence,” he said, “and if we continue to build on this, I like our chances.”

At 8-2 in the division, the Mustangs entered this week tied for first with Gunn and Saratoga.

Mountain View was part of the crowded field of front-runners until Oct. 16, when Homestead knocked off the Spartans 8-15, 15-12, 15-8, 15-13.

Mountain View led 12-2 in Game 4, only to watch the host Mustangs rally for the win.

“We have very stubborn kids,” Milkovich said in explaining his team’s comeback. “They just decided to stop playing around and started to play.”

And the Spartans (7-3) fell apart, according to their coach.

“With Homestead, you have to play your ‘A’ game,” Peter Kim said, “and we had some mental breakdowns, which was disappointing.”

Mountain View middle blocker Anna Carlstone recorded a match-high 18 kills, while Homestead outside hitter Adrienne Hoopes put down 17 balls.

“Adrienne was solid,” Milkovich said. “But what was really nice was to get 13 to 14 kills from Ashley Mason and Erin Grolle.”

The Mustangs had an easier time Thursday, prevailing 15-6, 16-14, 15-12 at Wilcox. Hoopes had eight kills in limited action.

The Mustangs play a 7 p.m. match at Milpitas today.

Mountain View, which hosts Wilcox at 7 p.m. today, rebounded from the Homestead loss by whipping Fremont on Thursday. Powered by Carlstone’s 11 kills, the Spartans coasted to a 15-3, 15-10, 15-10 home win.

Gunn on title run

If Gunn hopes to win the El Camino Division, coach Evan Barth said his team must be at its best these next two weeks.

“The next three or four matches are important ones in terms of winning league,” he said.

After what should be an easy win over Fremont tonight (7 p.m.), the Titans face Saratoga, Mountain View and Homestead.

Gunn (8-2, 17-10) is coming off a week in which it went 2-0.

The Titans beat host Wilcox 15-4, 15-9, 8-15, 15-6 Oct. 16, then crushed Cupertino 15-8, 15-6, 15-9 Thursday.

Middle blocker Liz Johnson led Gunn both nights, posting 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Michelle Rybka added eight kills against Wilcox, while Los Altos Hills resident Sarah Walatka had four kills, 24 assists and an ace.

Lancers fall in tourney

St. Francis’ reign as the top team in the state likely will come to an end once the California Interscholastic Federation’s new rankings are released next week.

The new No. 1 team might be Torrey Pines (24-1), which squeaked by the Lancers (20-2) in the finals of last weekend’s Santa Barbara Tournament. The San Diego school pulled off a 15-7, 10-15, 15-9, 10-15, 15-9 upset of St. Francis, which came in rated fourth nationally.

Although the Lancers dug out of a 6-1 hole to win Game 2, they failed to overcome deficits of 13-3 in Game 1 and 10-4 in Game 3.

St. Francis did manage to win the fourth game, but it came with a price. Colby Lyman, who made the all-tournament team along with Diane Copenhagen, reinjured a tender ankle.

“Colby got injured in the fourth game, and that was a bad thing for us,” coach Dave Gambelin said. “She was playing really well.”

St. Francis was led by Jessica Gysin’s 17 kills.

Prior to its trip down south, St. Francis easily won SCVAL De Anza Division matches at Lynbrook and Los Gatos to maintain its stranglehold on first place (9-0).

The Lancers routed Lynbrook 15-8, 15-1, 15-7 Oct. 16 behind 11 kills from Taylor Whittell. The next day St. Francis cruised to a 15-6, 15-7, 15-11 win over Los Gatos, with Annie Connor posting 12 kills.

St. Francis entertains Santa Clara at 7 p.m., Thursday.

Eagles soar past Wildcats

In De Anza Division competition Oct. 16, Los Altos defeated visiting Los Gatos 15-13, 8-15, 15-9, 15-10 to stay in second place (6-2).

The Eagles were led by Suedy Ezzatyar and Kristen Luxton, who had 11 kills each.

Los Altos visits Palo Alto at 7 p.m., Thursday.

Panthers can’t hold leads

Pinewood’s Oct. 16 match, which Redwood Christian won 15-12, 15-7, 16-14, typifies the Panthers’ season.

Host Pinewood (2-8) led 9-2 in the first game and 14-10 in the third, yet couldn’t hold on.

“The girls have really been trying hard, but have not harnessed the mental toughness to be able to beat the better teams or win the close matches,” said first-year coach David Winn.