The Cabrillo water polo fast freight, The Big Train that throttles to the Los Padres League title on a nearly annual basis, is back on the track.

After a desultory early season in which they went only 1-4 at the Thousand Oaks tournament and lost to Ventura, the Conquistadores battled Thursday to a gritty 13-12 home win over highly regarded Arroyo Grande.

The Conqs took a 3-1 lead after one quarter on two goals by Byron Mikowicz but the Eagles hit a flurry of shots to deadlock the contest 7-7 at halftime.

At 4:20 of the third quarter Wes Hain fed Alex Reyna for a score to give Cabrillo its first two-goal margin of the second half at 10-8.

Cabrillo built it from there to 13-9. The Eagles made a closing run but the Conqs ran out the clock.

"AG wants to shoot," said Cabrillo coach Joel Jory. "If they had their choice it would be 20-18. If it was our choice it would be 8-7. We met somewhere in the middle.

"I thought we did well except for the second period. There were 10 goals in that period. That/s just letting them dictate the tempo. I was glad tosee the kids adjust in the second half.

Jory said he saw good things.

"Alex Reyna had a great game. That/s the best I/ve seen him play all year.

"AG puts up a lot of shots and both our goalies played well. The two goalies (Kris Rosson Sam Ouimet) between them only have a couple varsity games, but Sam had eight blocks, and Kris had seven, so that/s a solid performance."

Ethan Hadley led Cabrillo with four goals, Byron Mikowicz had three and Reyna and Nick Darling added two each, Daniel McNutt and Hain one each. McNutt and Darling had four assists apiece.

"We knew there/d be a lot of learning going on this season," Jory said.

"We/ve been outswum a couple times so it/s good to get a win against a decent physical team. Six guys contributing in the scoring column is pretty good."

Ian Starkie led Arroyo Grande scoring with seven.

Cabrillo, now 2-5, is off to the Buena Tournament Thursday.

Los Padres League tennis

Cabrillo 15, Santa Maria 3

At Santa Maria the visiting Conquistadores did as expected7 won big.

Every Cabrillo singles player swept and every doubles team took two of three.

Only the Saint duo of Victoria Regalado/Maty Martinez was able to stem the black-and-gold tide as they won 6-3, 6-4 and 6-2.

But elsewhere it was all Cabrillo as Lisa Schutz won three 6-2, 6-0, 6-0, Ellen Monkemeier three 6-1, 6-1, 6-3, and Summer Miller 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.

"Lisa and Ellen were very steady as usual," said Cabrillo coach Dan Troup. "And Summer looked good today."

In doubles Elysha McLain/Madalyn Doudna won 6-2 and 6-1, Heidi Havlicek/Lindsey Johnson 6-1 and 6-0, and Ashley Brady/Ali Herred 6-1 and 6-3.

Now 2-0 in league play the Conquistadores are looking ahead.

"We/re excited about Thursday," Troup emphasized. "We know St. Joseph is good.

"We/ve got three biggies in a row7 St. Joseph, Morro Bay and Santa Ynez. Thursday to Thursday it will be real interesting."

Troup/s troop played Tuesday without Lauren Vance, the third senior singles star of the team.

"We hope to get her back Thursday, but even without Lauren we/ll compete," Troup vowed.

The Thursday match will take place at Cabrillo.

St. Joseph 16, Lompoc 2

At St. Joseph, the hostesses treated their guests rudely as only Kayla Cunningham with a 6-2 victory in singles and Amanda Chastain/Sami Razon by 6-3 could post points for the Braves.

Jenna Okerblum gave up just two games (6-0, 6-0, 6-2) and Sophia Eszes just three (6-0, 6-2, 6-1) but they were not the top Knights on this day.

That honor went to the doubles team of Courtney Jaeckels/Lauren Freitas who swept with perfect 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0 sets.

"We knew going in we were up against a strong, experienced team," said Lompoc coach Loretta Jensen.

"The singles players were swept up cleanly the first round as well as was the doubles, but we came out a little stronger the second and third rounds."

Lompoc is now 0-2 in league, 0-4 overall. The Braves host Nipomo Thursday.

Los Padres League volleyball

Santa Ynez 3, Lompoc 1

At Paisola Pavilion the Brave volleyball girls made history.

Since Lompoc joined the Los Padres League in 2002 the blues had never defeated the perennial powerhouse Santa Ynez Pirates in even one game. Until Tuesday night/s third game when they roared out to a 17-7 margin and won 25-14.

The Pirates came back to prevail in the league opener 25-8, 25-18, 14-25, 25-16 but history had been made.

"The girls did everything right out of the texbook," said Lompoc coach Don Savella. "It was poetry watching all that come together. We were in a zone.

"I/m always proud of the girls. They continue to grow and mature as players but I was very impresed that they were beginning to believe they could contend with a powerhouse team.

"Everybody contributed."

Robin Kaminsky-Rosauer and Katelyn Lynch led Lompoc with five kills each. Megan Michel notched four solo blocks. Alyssa Ray and Wendy Yang each had five effective digs and Yang added two service aces.

"Of the girls we had on the court four of them were playing with colds," Savella added. "You would not have recognized these girls. They put service beyond self."

Lompoc, now 0-1 in league, 0-4 overall, visits St. Joseph Thursday.

Pioneer Valley 3, Cabrillo 1

At Cabrillo, Nikki Doyle racked up 20 kills to help the Panthers down the Conquistadores 25-19, 25-13, 18-25, 25-11 in the Los Padres League opener for both teams at Cabrillo.

For the Conquistadores, Jessica Shekell had eight kills and three blocks. Jessica Kennedy had 10 kills. Miriam Malae had seven kills.

Pioneer Valley is 2-2 overall.

The Conquistadores 7 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the LPL 7 host Santa Maria on Thursday.

Sports writer John McReynolds can be reached at 736-2313, Ext. 106, or jmcreynolds@lompocrecord.com

September 21, 2005