Block party: Jose Tano, Providence High’s man...

Block party: Jose Tano, Providence High’s man of many nicknames, has finally found one that sticks.

A middle blocker for the Pioneers’ volleyball team, Tano used to be called “Roof” because of his ability to block opponents’ attempts.

Then he adopted the phrase, “Get outta my house.”

Tano, a four-year varsity starter, is now simply called “The Landlord.”

In a recent match against Windward, he blocked the same player’s attempt four times in a row.

“They might have to pay rent now,” Providence Coach Andrew Bencze said.

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Helping hand: One of the most improved baseball players in the Channel League is Hueneme catcher Francisco Camarena, a junior batting .361 for the league-leading Vikings.

“We were hoping he’d improve defensively and that he would hit at least .250,” Hueneme Coach Reg Welker said.

Camarena’s development has been hastened by the tutoring of former Hueneme and all-league catcher Jim Pettit, a Viking assistant the past two years.

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Court disorder: The 10-0 start of the Glendale boys’ tennis team has included some surprising performances.

Ray Hong ranks at the top of the list. A sophomore who was expected to take his lumps, Hong entered the week with a 25-5 record. Junior Philip Yim was 27-3 at No. 2 singles.

No. 1 singles player Ji Chung, an all-region selection by The Times in 1996, was 30-0.

Chung’s victories include a 7-5 decision over Beverly Hills’ Jose Lieberman, ranked fifth in the boys’ 18-and-under division of the Southern California Tennis Assn. Chung is not in the top 60.

And Chung’s 6-2 victory over Hoover’s Danny Kim, the two-time Pacific League singles champion, was a mild surprise.