Sandy NeedhamSchool: Santa Margarita HighSport: TennisPosition: No....

Sandy Needham

School: Santa Margarita High

Sport: Tennis

Position: No. 1 singles

Class: Senior

Needham continued her strong singles play and helped Santa Margarita, ranked No. 7 in the Southern Section Division I, to three victories last week. Needham didn’t lose a game in Sea View League victories over Woodbridge and Tustin and led a 12-6 victory over former Angelus League rival Mater Dei by winning, 6-0, 6-0, 6-4. In the 6-4 victory, Needham needed some strong net play to hold off Mater Dei’s Sara Jarrett, who was playing in place of the Monarchs’ regular No. 1, Erika Asmuss. Doug Williams, Santa Margarita’s interim coach, said Needham has been working hard to improve at the net. With the three victories, Needham has a 36-3 record. “Besides really putting up the points, which she does almost always, she’s very good at encouraging her teammates when she’s not on the court,” Williams said.

Other top performers:

Jamie Donnely, who finished fourth in 20 minutes 36 seconds in the Division III race of the Central Park Invitational, leading Laguna Beach to the team title.

Kim Foster, a Fountain Valley cross-country runner who ran 18:58--the fastest time for an Orange County girl--to win the Division III race of the Central Park Invitational.

Roberta Gehlke, who had 14 kills in Mater Dei’s five-game upset of then-No. 5 El Toro and 10 kills in the Monarchs’ three-game victory over Mission Viejo.

Brandy Smerko, who had 30 kills, eight blocks and four aces as Valencia swept Magnolia and Savanna in two Orange League volleyball matches.