FALL HIGHLIGHTS : Valley Comebacks Nets Water Polo Title

Kurt McCullum scored with 29 seconds left as Valley College rallied to a 12-11 victory over Rio Hondo to win the Southern California Conference water polo championship Friday at Rio Hondo.

Valley (13-10, 6-2) advances to the Southern California Community College playoffs in Long Beach next Friday.

Earlier Friday in a first-round game, the Monarchs qualified for the championship game with an 11-10 win over San Bernardino. Rio Hondo finished second with a 5-3 conference record.

In the championship match, Josh Foster and McCullum each scored four goals to rally Valley from a 3-0 first-period deficit.

“Our guys really wanted to win,” Valley Coach Bill Krauss said. “They were just amazing. We played real smart today.”

Foster scored Valley’s winning goal against San Bernardino and had five goals in all to lead the Monarchs. McCullum added four goals.

With Valley trailing, 10-7, after three periods against San Bernardino, Monarch goalie Arn Tretsven shut out San Bernardino to preserve the win.

BOYS WATER POLO

Harvard 9, Rolling Hills 8--Justin Cheen scored the winning goal for Harvard (23-5) with 48 seconds left in the second-round Southern Section 2-A Division playoff match at El Camino College. Harvard advances to the quarterfinals for the first time in the school’s history. The Saracens play La Serna on Tuesday.

VOLLEYBALL

Cal State Northridge d. Cal State Los Angeles, 15-4, 15-7, 15-13--Alissa Evans had 11 kills to lead CSUN in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. match at Cal State L.A. on Friday.

CSUN, ranked No. 1 in Division II, extended its CCAA win streak to 37 matches in a row.

Franci Bowman and Sue Darcey each had 10 kills for CSUN (23-5, 10-0). Dawn Eto led the Lady Matadors with 19 digs and Bowman added 17 digs and three service aces. CSUN plays at USC tonight in a nonconference match.

Cal Lutheran d. Biola, 15-10, 15-5--Senior Jill Koscinski had 10 kills and six blocks as CLU advanced to the semifinals of the NAIA District III playoffs at CLU.

The Regals play Westmont in today’s semifinal match with the winner advancing to the championships.

CLU (31-5) is the top-seeded team in the District III playoffs. Master’s (20-11) was eliminated from the tournament after losing two matches on Friday.

Cuesta d. Pierce, 11-15, 15-12, 15-5, 15-9--Shari Gartland had 19 kills for Pierce in the Western State Conference match. Pierce dropped to 8-8, 7-7 in conference.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Village Christian d. San Dimas, 15-5, 15-4, 15-6--Karin Yoho had 12 kills leading Village Christian (13-3) in the second-round Southern Section Small 1-A Division playoff match at San Dimas.

Edison d. Chaminade, 15-11, 15-11, 15-3--Edison eliminated Chaminade from the Southern Section 4-A Division playoffs with the victory. Anna Suarez had 12 kills for Chaminade (14-4).

GIRLS TENNIS

Chaminade 17, Palmdale 1--Abigail Villena each of her three opponents by 6-0 scores to pace Chaminade (18-2) to an easy first-round Southern Section 2-A Division playoff victory at the Northridge Tennis Club.

WRESTLING

Cerritos 37, Pierce 12--Heavyweight Brian McCord pinned his opponents to record Pierce’s only win in the nonconference match at Pierce.