Royal Sweeps Own Volleyball Tournament

For four years, Royal High’s Jennifer Hamilton had never seen her team lose in the Royal Classic, and the six-foot senior middle blocker made sure the Highlanders kept that streak alive Saturday.

Hamilton was Royal’s terminator in a 15-6 victory over Ventura in the championship match, riddling the Cougar defense for eight kills and two blocks as the Highlanders won their own tournament for the fourth year in a row.

Hamilton, who piled up 44 kills and six blocks in 10 tournament games to win most-valuable-player honors, had plenty of help as Royal put on an impressive performance in winning every game.

In the 10 games--two wins each over Crescenta Valley, La Canada and El Camino Real, and victories over Fillmore, Bell-Jeff and Ventura in addition to the final--outside hitter Stacy Kaufmann rammed home 28 kills and had three blocks, and middle blocker Kristen Fick had 13 kills and seven blocks. Tracy Tahy had 92 assists and Jill Enright contributed 16 kills despite missing 2 1/2 games after lacerating her chin on a dig attempt and receiving four stitches.

Royal, Ventura and Moorpark emerged as pool winners, and Bell-Jeff, El Camino Real and Palmdale finished second in pool play to also advance to the playoffs in the 15-team tournament.

Strong play in the middle from Sarah Mahoney helped Ventura make it through pool play as the only other undefeated team. The Cougars, behind the setting and defense of Wendy Ward, stopped Moorpark in a semifinal, 15-12. Bell-Jeff won the third-place match, beating Moorpark, 15-5.