Roundup: Girls Win Beach Volleyball Title

After coming up short in their initial effort, Redondo’s Tiffany Morales and former Mira Costa standout Jace Pardon landed a championship in beach volleyball last weekend.

The pair teamed together to claim the title of the USA Volleyball Youth Beach High Performance under-19 division last Saturday at Manhattan Beach.

Morales and Pardon defeated the team of Kamila Tan of San Diego and Jensen Button of Menifee, 28-23, in the final.

“We stepped up when we needed to,” Morales said. “And we played against some difficult teams as well. Jace and I just stayed focused. It really felt good to win.”

Said Pardon, “We came in ready to play. We’re starting to connect better with out setting and getting used to playing better with each other. I think we both wanted a better outcome to make up for that horrible loss.”

The “horrible loss” occurred when she and Morales lost in the final round of USA Beach Volleyball High Performance championships in Hermosa Beach two weeks ago. The duo rolled through the first three rounds of competition before being knocked out of the under-19 division in the opening match of the final round.

Still, both said they’ve enjoyed being paired together.

“I really like playing with Tiffany,” said Pardon, who will play beach volleyball next season at Florida State. “She’s really scrappy and she has a lot of control. She’s a really good passer and she sets me really well. I like knowing when I go up for a block that a player is going to pick me up and Tiffany does it all of the time. She’s a great player.”

“Jace is really encouraging during a game, even when I mess up,” Morales said. “She has a huge swing and it really helps. I can just toss her a ball and she’ll just swing away. She’s really good. At first, we were a little tentative of where to set each other and how things would play out. But once we started flowing, everything started working out.”

Morales also played with her Redondo teammate, Skylar Dykstra, to capture a title at the Volleyball Rags AAU Americas Challenge Tournament at Manhattan Beach last Sunday. They stopped Cassie Strickland of Huntington Beach and Rebecca Strehlow of Long Beach, 23-21, 21-19.

It was the first time Morales and Dykstra played together in beach volleyball competition since last summer.

“Skylar and I had a really tough match,” Morales said. “They’re really good skilled players, especially Rebecca. Skylar and I stepped it up and we made sure every point we were going for the ball like it was the last point. We were making sure we put the pressure on them.”

Smooth transition so far for Costa’s Amaral

Mira Costa’s Jeff Amaral is getting his feet wet this summer as the Mustangs’ new boys basketball coach.

Amaral, who replaced Henry Myar in May, said he’s been pleased with the team’s performances. Mira Costa has played in tournaments at UC Santa Barbara, West Torrance, San Pedro and Peninsula. The Mustangs will complete their summer session at a tournament Saturday at Gahr High in Cerritos.

Point guard Cole Feaster, shooting guard Kevin Kim and forward Karl Acres have had strong outings throughout the summer, Amaral said.

“Cole’s played very well and been our main guy,” Amaral said. “He makes a lot of things happen on offense. Karl gives us toughness inside. Kevin gives us a lot of athleticism and speed. He’s been banged up with some injuries, but when he’s out there, he gives us some nice minutes.

“Overall, we’ve had a positive summer. We’ve gotten better. We’ve also gotten some young kids some valuable playing time this summer.”

Among the young players performing well have been shooting guard Oliver Mausner, who will be a junior this fall, and forward Justin String, who will be a sophomore.

Amaral, a 1998 Mira Costa graduate and a two-year starter on the basketball team back then, has been an assistant coach at the school for the past 10 seasons. He spent last season as the head assistant under Myar.

Despite the regular season being months away, Amaral, 31, is already excited about the possibilities.

“I’m ecstatic. There’s a lot of energy coming in,” the coach said. “It’s a great opportunity for myself and one I’m taking with a great deal of pride. We’re working hard. The players are putting their best in it as well. I just have to make sure our team is well prepared for a tough league and make sure the boys are ready to compete at a high level. I’m looking forward to the season.”

Costa’s Johnson to play at College of the Sequoias

Former Mira Costa star Thomas Johnson will attend College of the Sequoias in Hanford, where he will play basketball for head coach Rusty Smith this fall.

Johnson, a high-flying 6-foot, 6-inch, 230-pound forward and one of the top inside players in the Bay League last season, averaged 13.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for the Mustangs, who struggled in the competitive league, but advanced to the second round of the CIF playoffs before falling to Simi Valley Royal.

Johnson also averaged three blocks per game. He shot 56 percent from the field.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with Thomas and help develop his potential,” said Smith, a former Manhattan Beach resident and a ’72 graduate of Aviation High. “He has the physical tools to be a dominant force for our team. He has a solid work ethic and great character. What more can coach ask for? Also, it is nice to be involved with a South Bay athlete.”

PV coach enjoys experience of inexperience

Palos Verdes coach Bob Varnell has been overseeing a youth movement this summer with his boys basketball team.

Varnell, who has the task of replacing four starters lost to graduation, including talented forward Spencer Armer, will be guiding an inexperienced bunch when the Sea Kings tip off this fall.

Still, Varnell is encouraged by what he saw this summer.

“We have a lot of new faces, but it was fun watching this group play,” Varnell said. “The entire team is pretty much new. It was fun watching these kids come together. Some of the younger kids stepped up and impressed.”

Among them were 5-foot 11-inch point guard Ise Kalejaiye, who will be a sophomore, and 6-foot 5-inch forward Michael Shepard, who will be a junior. Kalejaiye will serve as a backup to his brother Sammy during the regular season. However, Ise Kalejaiye was able to gained valuable minutes after Sammy suffered a knee injury—Varnell said it wasn’t serious and the senior-to-be was advised to rest it—and sat out several games.

Senior forward Matt Costa, who also plays on the football team, will be the only returning starter for the Sea Kings. Costa averaged almost 10 points per game last season, but will be counted on for bigger contributions next season.

“We’ll be carried by Matt Costa,” Varnell said. “He’s our main go-to guy. He’ll set the tone for us.”

He will get help from seniors Nick Huebner, Thomas Good and Tanner Dilello, who were reserves last season. Varnell believes all three will be valuable contributors.

Palos Verdes competed in the Redondo summer league and various invitational tournaments throughout the area. Despite their inexperience, Varnell said he’s enjoying the experience of watching his young club grow.

“It’s a total rebuild,” the coach said. “They’re good kids and they want to learn. I think that’s what I love most about coaching is the teaching. As long as they get better, we’ll be OK.”

Costa wins, PV falls in opening round of baseball playoffs

Mira Costa opened with a win, but Palos Verdes suffered a defeat in the opening round of pool play in the South Bay Summer Baseball League playoffs on Thursday.

The Mustangs, who finished first in the West Division, recorded a 6-4 victory over South Torrance, while the Sea Kings, runners-up to Mira Costa in the West, dropped a 9-5 decision to Loyola.

For Mira Costa, Ian McLoughlin hit a two-run double. Anthony Lombardo threw a two-hitter in five innings, striking out three and walking three. Gordan Cardenas earned a save.

In today’s games, Mira Costa will host Culver City in a 5 p.m. contest, while Palos Verdes will host L.A. Harbor in another 5 p.m. game. On Saturday, Palos Verdes visits North Torrance in a 10 a.m. contest. Mira Costa plays at San Pedro at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The winners of the championship pool will play for the league championship at 7 p.m. Saturday at Marine Park in Manhattan Beach.

Meanwhile, Redondo and Peninsula are competing in consolation play of the playoffs. The Sea Hawks will host Torrance in a 5 p.m. clash today, while the Panthers will meet Bishop Montgomery in another 5 p.m. contest at Peninsula.

On Saturday, Peninsula will host Gardena at 11 a.m. Redondo will play El Segundo at a site and time to be determined.