ROUNDUP : Simi Valley’s Danish Import Passes Major Road Test

It is likely that when exchange student Rikke Pedersen of Denmark arrived at Simi Valley High this summer she knew nothing about the national-caliber cross-country runners in the neighborhood.

But after leading the Pioneers to a 22-35 Marmonte League victory over Channel Islands on Wednesday, Pedersen can rest assured in the knowledge that she is among the best.

The Simi Valley senior clocked 17 minutes 59 seconds over the three-mile course at College Park in Oxnard to beat Channel Islands’ Veronica Barajas by 14 seconds.

Barajas was fifth in the Kinney national championships and second in the state Division I meet a year ago.

Liz DiLalla placed third in 19:14 for Simi Valley (4-0 overall, 3-0 in league competition).

In other girls’ cross-country meets:

Channel League tri-meet--Rio Mesa’s Tina Schroyer won the race at Dos Pueblos High in 19:13, but eight-time defending league champion Buena came away with a pair of team victories.

The Bulldogs posted a 23-37 win over Rio Mesa and a 16-46 thrashing of Dos Pueblos.

Rio Mesa also upended Dos Pueblos, 21-38.

Christy Ruffin (19:20) and Megan Ellis (19:39) finished second and third for Buena (3-0 in league meets).

Bell-Jeff 17, La Salle 45--The Guards (2-2, 1-1) swept the first four places in a San Fernando League meet at Eaton Canyon Park.

Natasha Soto timed 24:08 over the three-mile course and teammate Lori Leon was second in 24:25.

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

Channel Islands 18, Simi Valley 43--The Raiders’ 1-2-3 finish in a Marmonte League meet at College Park sealed the victory for Channel Islands (4-1, 2-1).

Fernando Mendoza finished first in 15:30 and was followed by James Darpino (16:03) and Miguel Ortega (16:13).

Channel League tri-meet--Buena’s top three runners--Steve Hails, David Guenther and Nathan Jobe--were unsure whose turn it was win, so they stutter-stepped to the finish and Hails was declared the winner.

Hails finished the course at Dos Pueblos High in 16:10. Guenther was second in 16:12 and Jobe third in 16:13 to lead the Bulldogs to a 19-41 win over Rio Mesa and a 17-45 victory over Dos Pueblos.

Rio Mesa, paced by Cesar Zepeda who placed fourth (16:29), edged Dos Pueblos, 25-30.

Bell-Jeff 20, La Salle 36--Terance Flynn ran 16:08 to set a course record at Eaton Canyon Park and lead the Guards (3-1, 2-0) in a San Fernando League meet.

Flynn bettered the previous record by six seconds.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

El Camino Real d. Taft, 15-5, 15-9, 15-8--Jessica Dinaberg recorded 12 kills and Hellen Hong added 10 for host El Camino Real (5-2, 3-1) in a Northwest Valley Conference match.

Reseda d. Kennedy, 14-16, 15-5, 15-9, 15-2--Tracy Dockery had 10 kills and three aces and Ludy Merida added eight kills for Reseda in a Northwest Valley Conference match (4-3, 2-2).

Maria Ramirez had four kills and four aces for the winners.

Chatsworth d. Cleveland, 15-2, 6-15, 15-9, 15-7--Jody Paperno had 11 kills and teammates Marsha Gekhtman and Gigi Gahttas added 10 each for Chatsworth (5-2, 4-0) in a Northwest Valley Conference match.

MEN’S SOCCER

The Master’s 3, UC San Diego 2--Momir Horvatek and Justin Roath scored second-half goals to break a 1-1 tie and lead The Master’s over visiting UC San Diego.

Derek Clark of Master’s scored the first goal at the 30-minute mark but UCSD’s Mike Lodoen scored eight minutes later.

Master’s (5-6, 4-2) scored the next two goals--by Horvatek (57:00) and Roath (68:00)--to take a lead it never relinquished.

Cal Lutheran 4, Caltech 1--Willie Ruiz notched a hat trick for host Cal Lutheran (7-2-1, 6-1) in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match. Jose Garcia scored the other goal for Cal Lutheran.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Pierce d. Long Beach City, 15-5, 17-15, 15-12--Jeannie Lane had nine kills and six blocks and Stephanie Burns added nine kills for Pierce in a nonconference match at home.

Olivia Balentyne added six digs and Pierce (5-3) totaled nine aces.