The new scoreboard at Peabody Stadium should get a severe test on Friday.
J.T. Stone, who coaches an electric football offense at Santa Barbara High, is bracing for some high-speed voltage when Pacifica visits the reconstructed stadium for a key Channel League game.
“They’re going to come down with their speed guys and they’re going to play exciting football,” Stone said during Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Press Luncheon at Harry’s Plaza Cafe. “They have an opportunity to win league, just like we do. It’s going to be a big game.
“It’s going to come down to our defenses, whomever makes a stop. Both of our offenses are going to score whenever we want.”
The Dons (5-1) have averaged 36.2 points per game during their current five-game winning streak. Pacifica (2-4), which played a difficult nonleague schedule that began with No. 21 state power St. Bonaventure, has scored at a 44.5-point clip over the last four games.
Stone said his defense stepped up when needed in last week’s league opener at Lompoc. Senior linebacker Vince Gamberdella, the Round Table’s Male Athlete of the Week, made several big stops to help the Dons pull out a 45-38 win.
“Vince is just an amazing kid,” he said. “His personality is something special. The thing that I really adore about him is that not only is he a captain, but he feels like he’s a coach all the time.
“There’s no filter. When he wants to express himself, he will. I love that about him even though I sometimes have to take it a different way. He’s an amazing leader for us. We would not be where we are today without him.”
Sophomore Winston Bartley, who made his varsity debut during last spring’s pandemic-delayed season, caught two of Abel Renteria’s three touchdown passes at Lompoc.
“Our goal with the COVID thing was to get varsity reps for as many kids as we thought would play as sophomores,” Stone said. “We brought him up as a freshman, and he started for us and he got better.
“He is going to be an exciting football player. He’s a special athlete, and he’s doing big things for us. The kids on the team really celebrated (his touchdowns) because we know how hard he’s worked. He’s got an amazing future.”
DOS PUEBLOS FOOTBALL
The Chargers (2-4, 0-1) look to bounce back from their 61-17 loss to Pacifica when they travel to Oxnard (2-4, 0-1) on Friday.
“They have some playmakers,” DP coach A.J. Pateras said of Pacifica. “For about a quarter and a half, we played very good football and competed with them, got some stops, were able to move the ball. It was just talent for talent, and they outmatched us.
“Since we’re a young team, learning how to be successful takes time. We’ve got to learn what it looks like, and we got a good look at what a top-caliber program is.
“We look forward to an Oxnard football team that is very similar to us. They play pretty good defense but it looks like they’ve struggled on offense at times.”
Junior linemen Diego Vargas and Nicolas Bitar have helped pave the way for an improving DP running game.
“Diego is starting to come into his own and really understanding the guard position, so it’s really exciting to watch him develop,” Pateras said. “Nick is playing right tackle, and he probably had his best football game last Friday … He’s starting to understand the position and is coming into his own.
“Both of these guys were playing both ways earlier in the season and we’ve shifted them to play just offense … These guys are part of a group of four juniors and one sophomore who’ve led us to about 500 yards in four weeks. We’re really starting to find our footing in running the ball.”
SAN MARCOS FOOTBALL
The Royals (2-4, 0-1), who lost their Pacific View League opener to Ventura, will try to snap a four-game losing streak when they travel to Channel Islands (1-5, 0-1). Coach Ralph Molina still has high hopes for the season.
“We win three of the next four, we get a third-place spot in the league, and that was our goal from Day One — make the playoffs,” he said. “We responded well after the game, and we’re going back to work today.”
Two of the workhorses on the right side of his offensive line are seniors Brayam Lopez and Chris Garcia.
“They work extremely hard and they’re two of the guys that are getting better and better,” Molina said.
SBCC FOOTBALL
The Vaqueros (3-1), who beat Glendale 24-6 with what coach Craig Moropoulos called “a total team effort,” take a three-game winning streak into their bye week.
Several freshmen from Santa Barbara-area high schools are making an impact, including defensive linemen Jordon Tagaloa and Semisi Falemaka from Bishop Diego.
“They’re what’s good about Santa Barbara City College football right now — Jordon Tagaloa at defensive tackle, and right next to him is Mr. Energy, Semisis Falemaka,” Moropoulos said. “You’d never know it by talking to him because he’s very quiet — but when he turns it on, he goes.”
SANTA BARBARA GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
The Channel League girls volleyball race was turned topsy-turvy last week when the Dons beat their two local rivals, Dos Pueblos and San Marcos, in a pair of five-set matches. They will all finish in a three-way tie for first place if San Marcos can pull off a win at DP on Thursday.
“I was really, really proud of them overall in how they came together as a team,” Santa Barbara coach Kristen Hempy said. “I feel like we’re really peaking at the right time. We made some adjustments, and we really wanted to bring our ‘A’ game after seeing San Marcos and DP the first time.”
Two of her captains — junior setter Annie Knecht and senior outside hitter Emma Zuffelato — are emerging stars. Zuffelato was honored on Monday as the Round Table’s Female Athlete of the Week.
“Emma is just an amazing leader, and not just in her athletic and competitive capabilities, but in her character, as well,” Hempy said. “I’m really proud in how she leads the team on the court when we’re in the middle of a match and also off the court.”
She described Knecht as “one of the most athletic girls I’ve ever seen.”
“She does track, too,” Hempy pointed out. “I did volleyball and track, too, so I love that combination.
“She’s been very strong in leading our offense this year … She’s really improving and growing and is just a real asset to have on the court every single game.”
DOS PUEBLOS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Chargers’ coach Megan O’Carroll sang the praises of Zuffelato, as well, telling her, “you are a competitor and you’re also a total class act, so you totally deserve that (Round Table award).”
O’Carroll was pleased that every one of her players turned out and had a great practice the day after the Santa Barbara match.
“We worked through some of our shortcomings and had a great match on Thursday against Santa Ynez,” she said. “We got to use some things that we’re going to use this week and next week. We ended on a really high note of getting better.”
She’s expecting big matches this week from senior middle Teagan Haley and junior opposite Makeili Cervantes.
“Teagan is a hitter by trade but we converted her to a middle blocker this year,” O’Carroll said. “Every week she gets better and better and is working on different shots and diversifying her game in practice.
“Makeili is a monster when she gets on top of the ball. We’re trying to utilize her more in matches and she’s another person who I think is going to have a huge impact on our success this week.”
SAN MARCOS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Coach Tina Brown said Santa Barbara’s return to prominence has made high school volleyball in the area especially exciting this season.
“Kudos to Kristen Hempy, a former San Marcos player and coach who has really brought this Santa Barbara team into the limelight,” she said. “It’s really so fun when you’re playing Santa Barbara and you’re playing DP … it just makes for excitement in practice when you’re getting ready for the game.”
Two seniors, Rya Cummings and Ella Drury-Pullen, have helped to keep the Royals on task. Drury-Pullen, who is still recovering from a broken arm, is making her presence known in a leadership role.
“They both bring to our program just everything you want an athlete to be,” Brown said. “They’re both dedicated, good teammates, work hard at practice, and are great students.”
PROVIDENCE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Athletic director Evan Covell, speaking for coach Suzie Garacochea, said it’s been a season of growth for the Patriots, with junior captain Emma Johnson at the forefront.
“She has stepped up to be a leader … especially with the kids who are new to the team and are new to their positions,” he said. “She’s definitely our leader and a veteran volleyball player.”
Freshman Eva Wagner has added her own voice, Covell added.
“She has been a vocal leader with the cheering and getting the momentum up on the court,” he said. “She has been instrumental with leading everyone into a good headspace and getting the enthusiasm for the next play. She really brings the team together.”
UCSB WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Assistant coach Matt Jones correctly predicted that senior middle Rowan Ennis would win the Big West Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week Award. She led the Gauchos to a sweep at Cal Poly and a four-set win at Cal State Bakersfield.
What he didn’t call was the Defensive Player of the Week Award that sophomore Macall Peed also won after averaging 5.71 digs per set and committing just one service-receive error in 39 attempts.
Jones described Ennis as their “COVID senior.”
“She got her season taken away but came back for a sixth year this fall,” he said. “She put on a show in both matches, hit over .500 for the weekend (.576) and had a bunch of blocks.”
That “show” was held before a sold-out crowd for Cal Poly’s homecoming.
“We had their students leaving early, which is always a good feeling,” Jones said. “We’re 4-0 in the Big West (8-8 overall) and tied with Hawaii, who always has a good team in conference. Going into the season, we kind of thought it was going to be between us, Hawaii and Cal Poly.
“We’ve got a good, young team that’s maturing well each week. A lot of talent, and we’re learning how to win and finish as the season goes along.”
They return home this weekend for matches on Friday at 7 p.m. against Long Beach State and Saturday at 6 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton.
WESTMONT WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The Warriors (12-7, 6-2 GSAC) are literally on the road back. They’ve won three straight, including last weekend’s home matches against William Jessup and Menlo after shaking off the dust of a month-long road trip.
“This month, we’re home for every single weekend except for one day,” coach Ruth McGolpin said. “We’re getting the players back who’ve been injured. We’re getting our COVID players back, too.
“We look to be strong.”
Much of their recent firepower has come from Lexi Malone, a returning first-team NAIA All-American.
“She’s just coming back from a back injury,” McGolpin pointed out. “But on Day One (back) against William Jessup, she hit .400 and had five blocks, and against Menlo she hit .523 with five blocks.”
SAN MARCOS BOYS WATER POLO
The Royals’ depth was drained by the end of a busy week in which they played six games in four days. They won their first three matches at the Villa Park Tournament before losing on Saturday to both San Clemente and San Juan Hills to finish in fourth place.
“I was missing five kids because of the SATs, so we pulled up a JV kid to fill in that starting spot,” coach Peera Sukavivatanachai said.
He expects to be at full strength for Wednesday’s Channel League showdown at Santa Barbara. That includes senior leaders Chris Vannier and Hank Jessup.
“These two players are the defensive strong points of our team,” Sukavivatanachai said. “Hank is our two-meter defender and Chris is in goal.
“They’re the most vocal on our side of the pool. They command and lead our team very well and lead our team, especially the younger guys. Especially these last two games when we were down five kids, they were extremely resilient, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
SANTA BARBARA BOYS WATER POLO
Dons’ coach Mark Walsh was feeling defensive about Wednesday’s match with the Royals — lauding star defenders Landin Romo and Jack Taylor.
“The ones who seem to get the most recognition are the ones who score the goals and get the assists,” he said. “It’s usually not the one who’s stopping the other team’s top player, who’s playing unselfishly and playing the whole game without taking any shots.
“A lot of times, that’s their role, even though they’re very good players.”
The Dons are ranked No. 12 in the CIF-Southern Section’s Division 1 while San Marcos is No. 1 in Division 2.
“We’re excited about the game,” Walsh said. “The guys have been talking about it for a while. We missed out on these big games last year.
“I have a lot of seniors and it’s going to be their last time through, so I know we’ll get their best effort and San Marcos’ best effort.”
DOS PUEBLOS BOYS WATER POLO
The Chargers, who are receiving votes in the Division 1 poll, will play host to Santa Ynez on Wednesday and then welcome Righetti to the Elings Aquatics Center for a nonleague match on Thursday.
Leading the way for DP’s offense are junior Brody Luke and sophomore Jaden Moore.
“Brody does a lot of the controlling the ball for us on offense,” coach Bryan Snyder said. “He’s kind of like a quarterback. He’s leading the team in goals. He’s a really great kid and really athletic in the water.
“Jaden is very, very talented in the water offensively. He has great movement over his hips, shooting, passing, etcetera.”
He called Moore “a silent assassin.”
“He doesn’t like to speak much,” Snyder said. “In water polo, you need to speak, so we’re going to try to work on that with him, but he does so many good things in the water that it’s really fun to watch him play.”
SAN MARCOS GIRLS TENNIS
Jonny Sapp, coach of the 9-0 Royals, was warned about jinxing his team when he predicted a victory over cross-town rival Dos Pueblos during his last luncheon appearance.
He decided to pull a reverse jinx on the eve of today’s first-place, Channel League showdown at similarly unbeaten Santa Barbara.
“They’re the last team we haven’t played in league, and this is for first place, so I just want to apologize in advance to Santa Barbara for beating us,” he said with a laugh.
“We’re deep, from singles to doubles,” he added, noting that converted singles players Charlotte Manion and Victoria Chow have helped fortify his doubles lineup.
PROVIDENCE GIRLS TENNIS
The Patriots (4-2, 2-0 Frontier League) have two of the top singles players in their league with Avala Ellwood and Sarah Monroy, Covell pointed out.
“Avala Ellwood is 12-3 overall,” he noted.
They’re looking to remain undefeated in league play with matches today against Villanova and Thursday against Santa Clara.
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