COLLEGE UPDATE:
GLENDALE — The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.
Kristin McLaughlin (Crescenta Valley High, 2006) senior utility player, Cal State Northridge women’s water polo: McLaughlin, a former All-Area Player of the Year, received Big West Conference Water Polo Player of the Week honors for the week of March 29 through April 3.
McLaughlin, a former All-Pacific League Most Valuable Player, finished with a career-high three goals and four steals to help spark 10th-ranked CSUN to an 11-9 double-overtime victory against visiting UC Irvine on Friday. She scored a goal in an 18-6 road loss against top-ranked USC on Saturday.
Against Irvine, McLaughlin scored in the first quarter to give the Matadors a 1-0 lead. She then tallied with seven seconds left in the third quarter to knot the match at 6 before scoring an insurance goal in the first overtime to extend CSUN’s lead to 11-8.
CSUN (21-6) saw its 10-match winning streak come to a close against USC.
Kali Cancelosi (Crescenta Valley High, 2009) freshman designated player, Utah State softball: Cancelosi, a reigning All-Area first-team member, was named the America First Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Week. It marked the first honor of the season for Cancelosi, who became the program’s first athlete to receive the recognition.
Cancelosi helped Utah State split four games last week. The Aggies were swept in a nonconference doubleheader by Utah Valley, 3-1 and 13-4, on March 30. Utah State regrouped to sweep Nevada, 12-4 and 11-7, in a Western Athletic Conference twin bill on Friday.
In the first of two games against Nevada, Cancelosi collected a pair of hits. In the second game, she had three hits, including a pair of home runs.
In the four contests, Cancelosi hit .636 (7-for-11) with three runs batted in and two runs scored.
On Wednesday, Cancelosi contributed three singles in a 12-4 conference home loss against Hawaii.
Through Wednesday, Cancelosi is hitting .349 (22 for 63) with three home runs and 17 runs batted in for the Aggies (14-16 and 3-3 in conference).
Shana Palencia (Hoover High, 2006) senior driver, Bucknell women’s water polo: Palencia, a former All-Area first-team selection, assisted on the winning goal to give Bucknell a 15-14 sudden-death victory against visiting Maryland on Sunday in a Collegiate Water Polo Assn. Southern Division match.
Haille Kennon scored the winning goal a little more than two minutes into sudden death to help the Bison improve to 12-7 and 4-0 in the division. Palencia contributed a pair of goals for the Bison, who had won 15 of their last 17 matches entering Wednesday’s nonconference match against visiting Hartwick.
Entering Wednesday’s match, Palencia had scored 26 goals and recorded 12 assists for 38 points in 19 matches. She ranked third on the team in goals and fourth in points.
Nick Gentili (St. Francis High, 2009) freshman infielder/outfielder/pitcher, Pomona-Pitzer College: Gentili is making the most of his opportunities for the Sagehens.
Gentili is batting a team-best .458 (49 for 107) with five home runs and 35 runs batted in for Pomona-Pitzer (21-5 and 15-1 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). He’s contributed nine doubles and a .701 slugging percentage in 25 contests.
He registered a single and drove in a run to help the Sagehens record a 6-5 conference victory against California Lutheran on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, Gentili collected a two-run single as part of a seven-run second inning to spark Pomona-Pitzer to an 8-4 win.
Chris Hertz (St. Francis High, 2005) senior outfielder, California Lutheran University baseball: Hertz, who also attended Glendale Community College, continues to shine for the Kingsmen.
Through Saturday, Hertz is batting .413 (38 for 92) with two home runs and 23 runs batted in. He’s recorded 10 doubles and collected 54 total bases in 26 games for Cal Lutheran (17-12 and 10-8 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).
