North County notebook: High expectations for El Dorado volleyball

El Dorado's girls volleyball team, at No. 2, finds itself a tad higher than usual in our county rankings. Why? This does not appear to be the usual Golden Hawks team.

Last year's Century League champion, reached the second round of the Division I—A playoffs. However, the Hawks lost only one starter and have six seniors in the top nine of their rotation, led by the 6-foot-2 twins Meredith and Brittany Crenshaw, who are headed to Gonzaga and Northern Colorado next year.

The Hawks have not advanced past the quarterfinals in Tefertiller's 14 years. But his hope seems well-founded. Isaac Owens' solid Esperanza team lost at El Dorado in four games last week.

"They have a lot of talent and a lot of size," Owens said in an email. "We were lucky to win a game from them at their place. I will take it."
 
— By Jonathan Kay

Swimming for a Break

Villa Park boys water polo coach John Carcich offered his players a sweat deal on Sunday. He said if the players participated in the 1-mile "Swim for Life" ocean swim in Newport Beach, they could miss morning workouts this week.

About 25 players in the program took Carcich up on the deal, Villa Park consultant John Kulisichsaid.

In one of the biggest matches this week, the No. 6 Spartans (1-0) play host to No. 4 Mater Dei (1-0) on Thursday at 4 p.m. In last season's CIF-SS Division II final, Villa Park defeated Mater Dei, 6-4.

—Dan Albano

Moving Up

Cypress might have been a bit under-ranked when the initial county polls came out last week. The Centurions, who are on a three-year winning streak when it comes to dual matches, were sixth. Recently, though, Cypress broke 200 as a team, shoot 193 at Tustin Ranch. Divide that by five players and the scoring average is 38.6. Kristina Nhim led the Centurions that day with her 1—under 35 on the front nine. This week, Cypress moves up to No. 5.

—Damian Dottore

Going the Distance

It was a successful day for a couple of the county's best female distance runners and teams at the Fastback Shootout Saturday at Mt Sac College in Walnut. Esperanza junior Teeny Adams (11:30) posted the fastest individual time of the day en route to winning her heat of the two mile race. In the girls senior race, Orange Lutheran senior Staci Foster (11:53) placed second. The Lancers finished second overall to Murrieta Valley in the team standings, with Esperanza finishing fourth overall

— Jason Eichelberger

Gold Medal Trainer

After a season of injuries, coach Jeff Sink and his Ladycats basketball program has turned to CATZ Sports to regain their league dominance.  CATZ Sports trained 19 Olympians including Misty May-Treanor, The US Men's Indoor Volleyball Team and members of the Women's Soccer team.  Fifteen of the 19 CATZ—trained athletes won Gold medals and two brought home silver medals.

— Damian Dottore

Have any great high school information to share about north Orange County? E-mail ddottore@ocregister.com

Contact the writer: ddottore@ocregister.com