Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

15-love: Modesto is perfect in MMC

Modesto High finished its Modesto Metro Conference tennis season in perfect fashion Tuesday by shutting out Johansen 7-0 without dropping a set.

Mackenzie Cook, who slid into the Panthers' (15-0) No. 1 singles slot after the graduation of two-time Player of the Year Katie Eng, capped her regular season with a 6-0, 6-0 win. She'll take the No. 1 seed into Thursday's conference tournament at Del Rio Country Club.

The singles final is Saturday at Del Rio at about 11:30 a.m. The doubles portion is also Saturday at Del Rio.

Modesto and Beyer (10-5) are off to the section team tournament, which begins Nov. 10. The Panthers will be at home, and Beyer will travel.

The Central California Conference sends Turlock and Merced to the playoffs with Turlock hosting a match.

Water Polo

MODESTO 9, OAKDALE 5, at Modesto -- Erica Austin had six goals as the Panthers (20-7, 13-0 MMC) clinched a share of the crown. Modesto must beat Johansen (12-1) Thursday in the MMC finale for an outright title, but both are going to the playoffs.

DAVIS 10, DOWNEY 7, at Downey -- Olivia Roberts was a demon in the cage, collecting 19 saves as the Spartans held off the Knights in the MMC. Roberts, despite playing with a broken bone in her ankle, repeatedly turned back 2-on-1 attacks, coach Tony Litke noted. Rylee Orozco and Kelsey Smith had three goals.

MERCED 5, GOLDEN VALLEY 1, at Merced -- Paige Rasmussen had two goals and four steals as the Bears (19-9, 12-0 Central California Conference) capped their conference season. The Bears face the San Joaquin Athletic Association runner-up, likely Lodi, when they open the playoffs Nov. 8 at Johansen.

Volleyball

BUHACH COLONY 3, TURLOCK 0, at Turlock -- Megan Callahan had 12 kills and three blocks as the Thunder (13-1, 9-1 CCC) beat the Bulldogs 25-12, 25-21, 25-17 to remain tied for first with Golden Valley (9-1).

ATWATER 3, MERCED 0, at Atwater -- Marissa Guardado's ball-handling (20 assists, six aces) led the Falcons (11-2, 8-2 CCC) past the Bears 25-14, 25-12, 25-10 and kept them in the hunt for the championship.