Sylmar Serves Notice to Poly

Sylmar High had an ace in the hole, or 19 to be exact.

Thanks to timely serving and an offensive attack that finished much better than it began, Sylmar High defeated Poly, 5-15, 11-15, 15-3, 16-14, 15-8, in a Valley Pac-8 Conference girls’ volleyball match Wednesday night at Poly.

The Spartans (5-0, 3-0 in conference play), ranked No. 10 in the region by The Times, had five of their 19 aces in an important fourth game, including four in a row by Nancy Ariza that tied the game, 14-14.

The Spartans fought off four game points before Ariza sent the match to a fifth game on a kill.

Middle blocker Kassy Jimenez started slowly for Sylmar, but pounded nine of her 14 kills in the final two games.

“If we messed up and shanked a play, we kept it together,” Jimenez said. “I felt like [my teammates] were my family out there.”

Poly (5-1, 3-1) was more cohesive at first, looking especially dominant in the second game, when Youssra Marjoua had seven blocks.

Marjoua finished with 11 blocks and eight kills.

But the Parrots lost their passing touch and their offense was thrown off kilter.

The Spartans were more than familiar with the Poly gymnasium, having played home matches there last season while awaiting completion of a new gym floor.

More important, however, was the Spartans’ serving.

Said Jimenez: “We just got the ball over to their side and forced them to attack the ball.”

In other volleyball matches:

Oxnard def. Channel Islands, 5-15, 15-4, 7-15, 15-11, 15-6--Jennifer Otani had 13 kills and six digs for the Raiders in a Pacific View League victory at Channel Islands.

Hilary Wallace had eight of 24 aces for Oxnard (6-1, 6-0).

Crescenta Valley def. Hoover, 15-9, 15-2, 15-7--Mele Misi had 12 kills and Tracy Jackson added nine kills for the Falcons (6-3, 2-0) in a Pacific League victory at Hoover.

Van Nuys def. Canoga Park, 15-1, 15-7, 15-12--Margo Wallace had 17 kills, eight digs and three aces for the Wolves (4-2, 4-1) in a Valley Pac-8 Conference victory at Van Nuys.

MEN’S SOCCER

Cal State Northridge 2, The Master’s 0--William Diaz had a goal and an assist for the Matadors in a nonconference victory over the Mustangs (6-4-2) at Northridge.

Mike Preis scored his sixth goal of the season in the 64th minute on an assist by Diaz and Diaz scored his third goal in the final minute on a pass from Federico Arroyo.

Arroyo, a Van Nuys High graduate, has had six points in the last three games for Northridge (6-4).

BOYS’ WATER POLO

Newbury Park 13, Westlake 10--Matt Rhodes scored three goals and Sid Pehrson scored twice in the fourth quarter for Newbury Park (8-9) in a Marmonte League opener.

Harvard-Westlake 14, Alemany 2--Eric Townsend, Jim Bloomingdale, Jason Melinsky and Brian Ault each scored two goals and the Wolverines (10-0) routed the Indians (2-5) in a Mission League opener at San Fernando Mission Park pool.

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

Frontier League Meet No. 1--Kent Krumpschmidt of Nordhoff finished first ahead of teammate Mike Lemon at College Park in Oxnard.

Krumpschmidt clocked 15:54, Lemon 16:22.

Cate 26, Viewpoint 29--Tom Kubler of Viewpoint set a course record of 17:59 on Malibu Creek State Park’s 3.1-mile course.

GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

Royal 24, Westlake 31; Westlake 21, Moorpark 34; Royal 17, Moorpark 43--Sophomore Jaclyn Pedersen was first and freshman Erin Weesner ran second to lead the Highlanders’ victory in a Marmonte League race at Westlake.

Pedersen clocked 19:03 on the three-mile course and Weesner timed 19:15.

Frontier League Meet No. 1--Ana Guerra of Santa Clara finished first in 19:06 and Mimi Hodgins of Malibu was second in 19:13 at College Park in Oxnard.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

Simi Valley 14, Quartz Hill 4--The Pioneers downed the Rebels (9-1) by going undefeated in doubles play at Simi Valley.

Mindy Gondrez swept at No. 1 singles for Simi Valley (8-1).