No. 1 Golden West Wins Women’s Volleyball Title

Mariah Marquis had 23 kills as Golden West, the top-ranked women’s volleyball team in the state, beat Saddleback in four games Sunday in the championship match of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

Whitney McAtee added 12 kills as Golden West won, 15-8, 15-3, 14-16, 15-13.

Whitney Ehl had 28 kills for Saddleback (7-3), which has only lost to Golden West this season.

Setter Becky Sidoti of Golden West was selected the tournament’s most valuable player.

Golden West beat Santa Barbara, 15-2, 15-6, 15-11, earlier in the winners’ bracket final.

Saddleback beat Santa Barbara, 10-15, 15-11, 15-9, and Cabrillo, 15-8, 14-4, in elimination matches on Sunday.

In the Palomar women’s water polo tournament:

Golden West wins three times--The Rustlers, the top-ranked team in the state, went 3-0 in the round-robin tournament to improve to 26-1.

Nadine Akers had 13 goals in the three games for Golden West, including six in a 15-4 victory over Grossmont. Golden West led, 4-3, at the half, then outscored Grossmont, 10-0, in the third quarter.

Amanda Ogle added six goals and Lisa Saenz added five in the three games for Golden West.