The Cabrillo girls tennis team did something it has not done since the 2000 season 7 and that/s beat three-time defending league champion Santa Ynez.

The Conquistadores dealt the Pirates their second straight loss with Thursday afternoon/s thrilling 10-8 home victory.

But it did not come easy.

With Cabrillo clinging to a 9-8 lead, Ellen Monkemeir sealed the match by beating Santa Ynez/s Sara Schroeder, 7-5.

"If it was 9-9, we would have lost on games," said Conqs coach Dan Troup."Everybody was done, and everybody was watching."

Cabrillo is 4-1 in the LPL and 4-3 overall. Santa Ynez is 3-2, 6-4.

Monkemeir/s set versus Schroeder was the last one left as the match extended past six o/clock.

"Even when I was coaching the JV/s, I don/t know if we ever beat them," said Troup. "It was definitely a sweet victory. Our seniors had never beaten them. The team mobbed Ellen and nearly put her on their shoulder."

The drama built as Schroeder led 5-4, but Monkemeier seized on a suggestion from Troup to play more to the forehand. It paid off as she then took three straight games for the victory.

"We led after the second round 7-5," said Troup. "We had the matchups we wanted. We had our No. 1 on their No. 2, and our No. 2 on their No. 3, but our No. 1 doubles lost to Claire Hemming and Erica Schroeder 6-4. Give those girls credit."

Troup/s No. 2 doubles team of Lauren Vance and Heidi Havlicek swept 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, while the duo of Madalyn Doudna and Elysha McLain took two of three and the pair of Ashley Brady and Lindsey Johnson got one.

Monkemeier and Lisa Schutz were victorious in two sets apiece in singles, both falling to Santa Ynez/s three-year league champion, Subi Sundaram, who swept 6-0, 6-0, 6-1.

But the Pirates could notch only five more sets 7 two coming from the doubles unit of Claire Hemming and Erica Schroeder. Sara Schroeder, Laura Reynolds, and the pair of Nicole Masnada and Lauren Henno picked up one set each.

Cabrillo, at 4-1, is now just one game back of league-leading St. Joseph (5-0) 7 which defeated Santa Ynez (3-2) two days earlier.

Up next, the Conquistadores visit in-town rival Lompoc on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.

Santa Maria 10, Lompoc 8

The visiting Saints won six of nine singles sets to edge the host Braves in LPL action.

Jani Carmona swept for Lompoc by scores of 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 7 but Veronica Garcia and Kristel Rubio did the same for Santa Maria.

"It was a disappointing loss," said Lompoc coach Loretta Jensen. "We had the lead in a couple of sets but Santa Maria came from behind."

In doubles, Crystal Hernandez and Kayla Cunningham won two sets for Lompoc with scores of 6-3 and 6-2 as did the duo of Maiyer Vang and Amanda Chastain by scores of 6-4 and 6-3.

"I was impressed with Maiyer and Amanda/s net play," said Jensen. "They were patient enough to set up points and use placement."

Teana Drouillard and Sami Razon teamed up for one, but Santa Maria/s Mia Tomilloso and Mayra Quintcenar swept and Sandra Zomaro with partner Elia Santiago took two of three.

Lompoc is now 1-4 in league and 2-7 overall, heading into Tuesday/s home match against Cabrillo.

Girls Volleyball

Cabrillo 3, Morro Bay 0

The host Conquistadores showed off their new uniforms and polished off Morro Bay in three games, 25-14, 25-19, 25-22.

The victory lifts Cabrillo to a 2-2 mark in the LPL and 3-5 overall.

"They got new uniforms," said coach Sue Slavens. "Black with a white stripe and gold lettering. They shined those babies up. Everybody did a good job."

Jessica Kennedy led the team in kills with 12 and digs with 27. Jessica Shekell served three aces and made 25 digs, while Brisha Ogan dug out 14.

After losing a heartbreaker on Tuesday, the Conqs made a comeback, said Slavens.

"Baseball is my favorite sport. They stepped up to the plate," she said.

The Conqs host Santa Ynez Tuesday.

Pioneer Valley 3, Lompoc 0

At Pioneer Valley, the Panthers have no seniors, but they do have a strong program, shown by their 25-12, 25-16, 25-14 victory.

"Pioneer Valley has one player, Nikki Doyle, who whenever they went to her they had a high probability of scoring," said Lompoc coach Don Savella. "She/s a very effective hitter."

For the Braves, Katelyn Lynch notched seven kills and a service ace, Tiffany Larsen came up with six digs and Robin Kaminsky-Rosauer tallied three solo blocks.

"The biggest objective for us is minimize our unforced errors, and we didn/t fulfill that objective," said Savella, whose squad drops to 0-4 in league and 0-7 overall.

Water polo

San Luis Obispo Tournament

Cabrillo 11, El Diamante 5

In their opener of the San Luis Obispo Tournament, Cabrillo/s Joey Gullickson, a transfer from Sonoma, tallied three goals to lead the Conqs to their sixth victory of the season.

"Joey really solidifies us in two-meter defense and gives us another weapon on offense," said coach Joel Jory.

Byron Mikowicz scored four, Alex Reyna added two, and Ethan Hadley and Nick Darling had one apiece. Hadley also led the team in assists with three, while Darling, Mikowicz and Gullickson led in steals with four each. Goalie Kris Rosson made eight saves.

The Conqs are now 6-7.

Freshman football

Cabrillo 45, Santa Ynez 7

Fullback Matt Rotondi scored three times, tailback Brandon Whitaker twice, lineman Michael Wolf once, and tailback David Fraats once as the host Conquistadores clobbered the Pirates for their fourth straight victory at Cabrillo High.

The score was 27-0 at halftime. Rotondi scored three times from 30 yards, 20 yards and from short yardage. Whitaker also hauled in a touchdown pass from quarterback Sean Allen that covered 40 yards.

Wolf/s touchdown came after Noah Moore caused a fumble in the Pirate backfield. Wolf grabbed it in the air and romped 60 yards.

Adrean Ames intercepted two passes for the Conqs, while Aaron Naputi notched an interception and a sack. In addition, Rotondi, Jeff Gonzalez, and Chris Zahuta had standout performances.

Lompoc 48, Nipomo 20

At Nipomo, the score was 26-6 at half with four touchdowns via Bobby Collins from 45 yards out, Jesse Knudsen from 20 yards out, Gilby Cornejo on a one-yard sneak and Favi Vargas from 45 yards out.

Place kicker Daniel Hernandez connected on three PAT/s.

In the second half, Frankie Garcia went off tackle for 20 yards, Vargas again from 45, and Anthony Sykeo from 20 for three more touchdowns.

"We/ve got a lot of speed and depth on this team," said coach Rick Aguilar, who praised the defensive play of end Roman Campos, cornerback Scotty Aguailar and lineman Bucky Martinez.

The Braves, now 4-0, visit Morro Bay next Thursday.

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

September 30, 2005