Fall Roundup : CLU Keeps Its Playoff Hopes Alive

Cal Lutheran stayed in contention for a playoff berth with a 15-9, 15-8, 15-9 victory over Azusa Pacific in a Golden State Athletic Conference women’s volleyball match Thursday night at Azusa Pacific.

Sophomore Samantha Bennett had 10 kills, 10 digs and a .375 hitting percentage to lead Cal Lutheran (11-13 overall, 6-7 in conference play).

Junior Jenifer Larson added 8 kills and setter Kelly Magee had 20 assists and a .455 assist percentage for the Regals.

Cal Lutheran is battling for a berth in the District 3 playoffs with Southern California College and Christ College. The top 6 teams qualify for the district playoffs.

Last-place Azusa Pacific dropped to 6-24, 0-13.

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS

Grant 4, Birmingham 3--Alexis Howerton won a tiebreaker, 8-6, in the decisive match as the host Lancers (7-4, 5-1) assumed first place in the Valley Pac-8 League.

Kennedy 6, Chatsworth 1--Jodi Gutstein led Kennedy (12-2, 7-2) with an 8-0 win over Patti Neipoan in the Northwest Valley League match at Kennedy.

Alhambra 12, Hart 6--Alhambra’s Ali Yoshimoto, Elvia Monry and Jackie Izuhara each swept 3 singles matches in a Foothill League match at Hart.

Alhambra improved to 11-2, 8-0. Hart is 11-4, 5-3.

Louisville 18, Bell-Jeff 0--Liz Hren did not lose a game in 3 sets, and the Royals’ No. 1 doubles team of Shellee Gautreau and Kathy Dy also did not drop a game in a San Fernando Valley League match at Studio City Golf and Tennis Club.

The victory wrapped up the league championship for Louisville (12-7, 8-1), which posted its best league record in 6 years. Bell-Jeff was winless in 9 league matches.

Taft 4, Granada Hills 3--Morgan Doctor, the Toreadors’ No. 4 singles player, won, 8-2, and the doubles tandem of Alison Luskin and Jenny Smith also won, 8-7, to lead Taft in the Northwest Valley League match at home. The Toreadors are 11-0, 7-0 in league.