GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL : Roughriders Knock Off San Pedro

Roosevelt High School girls’ volleyball Coach Ken Maki felt better the second time around.

Last year, his team was eliminated in its City Section 4-A semifinal match against University. The Roughriders atoned for that loss, defeating San Pedro 15-8, 8-15, 15-12, 6-15, 15-10 in a 4-A semifinal match Wednesday at Roosevelt.

With the victory, Roosevelt (16-1) advanced to play Palisades--which defeated Chatsworth 15-5, 15-10, 15-5 in the other semifinal--in Saturday’s final at Occidental College. (See Sports, Section C for results.)

The trip to the finals represents the eighth for Maki in his 13 years of coaching girls’ volleyball at Roosevelt.

Maki’s trump card against San Pedro was junior Zenobia Hunt, who had 20 kills and seven blocks in the match--and was named the Eastern League’s Most Valuable Player.

“It felt so good to get MVP with this being my first year,” Hunt said.

It was probably equally satisfying for Hunt when she helped spur an 11-2 run that enabled Roosevelt to finish off the Pirates in the fifth game after trailing 8-4. Hunt came off the bench and made two key kills late in the game.

San Pedro’s Alexandra Rigg, who had 18 kills, a block and one serving ace, played an outstanding match as well. She had six kills in the fourth game as San Pedro won 15-6 to tie the match at 2-2.

Roosevelt won the third game, 15-12, after nearly blowing a 14-2 lead. Leona Jacobs, who had 21 kills and two blocks in the match, had three kills in the game.

The Pirates won the second game, 15-8, behind Rigg’s three kills and Linda Caric’s game-winning ace.

Hunt dominated the first game, which Roosevelt won 15-8, with nine kills and the game-winning ace.

“My team depends on me for the big blocks and kills,” Hunt said.