The playoff push is already underway for the top girls tennis teams in the Los Padres League.

Though only two matches into the LPL season, Thursday/s contest at Cabrillo High School between the St. Joseph Knights and Cabrillo Conquistadores had a playoff-like atmosphere.

It pitted two of the top three team in the league 7 both were 2-0 in the LPL coming in, tied for first place with Santa Ynez.

Only the Knights came away with an unblemished record 7 winning 11-7.

"Overall, the girls responded well to the pressure. This was the first highly competitive, tense match since we played San Luis Obispo," said St. Joseph coach Ken Noe. "Cabrillo knew how important the match was, too. Both teams were fighting for every point."

"It was a tough match today," said Cabrillo coach Dan Troup. "They/re a good team."

"I thought the sportsmanship on both sides was very good," said Noe. "Everybody knew it was a well played match on both sides."

Through the first ten sets, the teams were dead even.

Heading into the third 7 and final 7 round, the Knights edged out to a 7-5 lead.

"The girls realized it was 7-5 going into the third round," said Noe. "We had a little team meeting just before the last round and I challenged them to step up. The girls really did."

"I called a team meeting before the last round," said Troup. "I just wanted to get them together, let them know where we stood and what they had to do in the last round. We needed to dominate in doubles and pull out two of the three singles."

The Knights swept all three singles matches in the final round while the Conqs won two of three in doubles.

"Their strength is singles and they came through in singles," said Troup. "We actually got them in doubles, 5-4, but they were 7-2 in singles. That/s where the match was won."

Playing No. 3 singles, St. Joseph freshman Ane McPike led the way for the Knights, going 3-0 against the Conquistadores/ varsity.

"She/s got a lot of experience playing junior tournaments," said Noe. "The competition doesn/t phase her at all. She/s excited about every match and looks forward to playing tough matches."

The Knights/ No. 1 singles player Sophia Eszes and No. 2 Jenna Okerblom each went 2-1 on the afternoon.

For the Conqs, their No. 1 Ellen Monkemeier and their No. 3 Summer Miller both went 0-3 while No. 2 Lisa Schutz went 2-1.

"Lisa played very well," said Troup. "Ellen is a good tennis player but she never got on track today. You/ve got to give the St. Joseph players a lot of credit."

In doubles, Cabrillo/s No. 1 team of Elysha McCain and Madalyn Doudna swept the Knights 3-0 while No. 2 Heidi Havlicek and Lindsay Johnson and No. 3 Lauren Vance and Ashley Brady went 1-2 apiece.

The Knights No. 1 and 2 doubles teams 7 Courtney Jaeckels and Lauren Frietas at No. 1 and Donolee Jones and Kacie Guggia at No. 2 7 went 2-1 while their No. 3 team of Whitney Brooks and Katie McPike went 0-3.

"We got a big win from Courtney and Lauren in the final round," said Noe. "If it came down to games, their victory in the third round would have given us the win. That was a big win, too."

Next up for the Conqs are the Pirates of Morro Bay. They come to Cabrillo next Tuesday afternoon at 3:30.

"There were some positives today," said Troup. "The doubles winning 5-4 7 we/ll take that and move on and get after Morro Bay. Morro Bay is no pushover. We/ll have to play a good match to beat them."

For the Knights, it/s another first place showdown when they host the other Pirates 7 the 3-0 Santa Ynez Pirates 7 next Tuesday, also at 3:30.

"I expect the same thing against Santa Ynez," said Noe "It will be just as intense against Santa Ynez because they/re always the team to beat. You always measure how good you are by how you do against the Pirates. I expect them to be fully loaded. It should be fun."

Nipomo 16, Lompoc 2

Elizabeth Will, Nipomo/s No. 1 singles player, dropped one game in three sets as the Titans (2-1, 2-4) won big on the road in a LPL match.

Lauren Caron and Erin Gardiner completed a singles sweep for Nipomo. Jani Carmona and Crystal Hernandez, Lompoc/s top doubles tandem, scored the points for the Braves (0-3, 0-5).

Lompoc plays a non-league match at 3 p.m. today at Coast Union.

Volleyball

St. Joseph 3, Lompoc 0

Natalie Crist smacked nine kills and led the Knights to a 25-13, 25-13, 25-14 sweep at Lompoc.

Crist was 9-for-12 on kill attempts and made just one error as St. Joseph ran its record to 2-0 in the LPL and 2-3 overall. Lompoc is 0-2, 0-4.

Crist served three aces. Traci Volker and Rachel Drake had five and four kills respectively for the Knights. St. Joseph plays at 6:15 p.m. at Cabrillo Tuesday night.

Cabrillo 3, Santa Maria 2

At Vandenberg Village, Jessica Kennedy racked up 21 kills and nine serrvice aces as the Conquistadores edged the Saints 23-25, 25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 15-12.

Cabrillo squared its LPL record at 1-1. The Conquistadores are 2-4 overall. Santa Maria is 0-2, 0-3.

Jessica Shekell had 10 kills and 10 aces for Cabrillo. Miriam Malae served five aces.

Freshman Football

Cabrillo 26, Dos Pueblos 14

Matt Rotondi/s 90-yard touchdown scamper in the first quarter highlighted the Conqs/ non-league victory over the Chargers.

Sports Writer Kenny Cress contributed to this roundup.