Sylmar Volleyball Duo Earn Coaches’ Honor

Stephanie Cisneros and Barbara Smiley, who led Sylmar High to its first major-division City Section girls’ volleyball championship, were selected section co-players of the year by the Coaches for Los Angeles Women’s Sports (CLAWS).

Cisneros, a senior opposite hitter, and Smiley, a senior setter, were the key players for a team that swept Chatsworth for the championship and finished the regular season with a 17-0 record. The Spartans lost to Long Beach Poly in the first round of the Southern California regional of the state tournament.

Sylmar, the City runner-up to Palisades in 1999, is only the second San Fernando Valley-area school to win a major division title since the sport was sanctioned in 1973. Chatsworth won in 1994.

Senior outside hitter Nancy Ariza and senior middle blocker Krystal Mejia of Sylmar also were selected to the all-City team by CLAWS.

Three Chatsworth players were selected: junior middle blocker Linda Wang, junior setter Carlie Allison and senior opposite Leila Pate.

Other players selected: senior middle blocker Cynthia Raichel and senior setter Wendy Duran of Venice, senior setter Margot Wallace of Van Nuys, junior outside hitter Ginelle Gomez of Garfield, senior outside hitter Jennifer Alfaro of Poly and senior setter Deana Dobay of San Pedro.

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For the second consecutive year, the City Section boys’ and girls’ basketball finals will be held at the Great Western Forum, said Barbara Fiege, the section’s commissioner of athletics.

City Championship division games will be played March 3. City Invitational division games are tentatively scheduled for March 2 at L.A. Southwest College.

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The City Section needs officials for baseball and softball games in the spring.

Information: Al Walters at (323) 258-7313.