Jenna Orlandini continues to anchor Washington volleyball

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.

Jenna Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2008) senior libero, University of Washington volleyball: Just like the Huskies, Orlandini is on the top of her game and leading the defense of the undefeated national power yet again in her final collegiate season.

The former Tolog hasn’t missed a set this season and her 138 digs (3.94 a set) lead the team. Orlandini has also provided an offensive boost with a team-high 17 aces, along with 32 assists.

With Orlandini anchoring the backline, Washington is ranked second in NCAA Division I this season with a 10-0 record and 2-0 start to Pac-12 Conference play after a four-game road win, 25-23, 25-19, 29-31, 25-8, over No. 21 Oregon Friday.

It was Washington’s first win in Oregon in four years and Orlandini logged a season-best 27 digs in the victory. She had 13 digs and three assists when the Huskies opened conference play Wednesday with a sweep of in-state rival Washington State, 25-17, 25-17, 25-17.

Orlandini and the Huskies resume conference play and their road trip when it travels to Colorado on Oct. 4.

Kaelin King (Flintridge Prep, 2013) freshman forward, Lafayette soccer: It took all of 23 minutes for the former Rebel to score her first collegiate goal and she followed it up with consecutive games with a score in Lafayette.

In the Leopards’ opener, the freshman forward one-timed a shot off her left foot for a goal, assisted by teammate Alyssa Finelli, in a 2-1 victory over Manhattan on Aug. 25.

King has continued to be an offensive threat for her new team. She’s tied for the team lead in goals with two scored. She also has an assist for five points through six starts in nine games this season.

Her most recent point came when she logged her first helper after being subbed in late in a 4-1 loss to Colgate, which served as Lafayette’s Patriot League opener on Sept. 21.

King’s other goal also came when she was substituted into a 3-2 Lafayette win over Sacred Heart on Sept. 1. After her season-opening tally, it marked consecutive games in which the 2013 All-Area first-teamer scored. This time, King used her head for what proved to be the game-winning goal off a cross from Samantha Potoczak in the 26th minute.

The Leopards are 4-4-1, 0-2 in league, this season, but will have a chance to log a winning record Wednesday when they travel to Lehigh.

Zack Torres (Crescenta Valley High, 2009) senior, UCLA cross-country: The two-time News-Press Male Athlete of the Year helped the Bruins win their season opener at the Mustang Challenge on Sept. 21.

UCLA dominated with a 20-53 edge over Cal State Fullerton and seven runners placing in the top 15 of the four-team event. Torres was clocked at 25 minutes, 50.23 seconds for 14th overall in the 8,000-kilometer race. His time was just more than a minute off first-place sophomore teammate Sergey Sushchikh (24:50.11).

Torres and the Bruins will look for another victorious run at the NCAA Preview at the Haggin Oaks Golf Course in Sacramento on Friday.

Zane Archer (Glendale High, 2008) senior linebacker, Chapman University football: A former Nitro and Glendale Community College Vaquero, Archer was a defensive leader for the Panthers in the first game of his final collegiate season.

The outside linebacker’s five tackles were second only to teammate Steven Santana’s seven in Chapman’s 57-14 road victory over Puget Sound on Sept. 14. Four of Archer’s tackles were made on his own and another went for a two-yard loss.

It was a vast improvement from Archer’s junior season when he logged 11 tackles that included a sack and an assist on another tackle for a loss in seven games.

After a bye, Chapman and Archer looked to improve to 2-0 Saturday night when they traveled to Whitworth.