High school playoffs arrive for local teams
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

October has turned into November, signaling the beginning of the postseason for many high school sports teams in the area.

In boys' water polo, Rio Mesa earned the No. 2 seed out of the Pacific View League with an 8-2 league record and will square off with Palos Verdes today in the first round.

Cody Womack has enjoyed a good year as the goalkeeper for the Spartans and RMHS will look to him to do well to advance.

Sean Kobayashi and Chris De Fratus should also be keys to the Spartans' defense.

Rio Mesa earned the No. 2 spot out of the Pacific View League in girls' tennis. The Spartans faced El Rancho yesterday in the first round of the Division IV CIFSouthern Section Championships.

Camarillo earned the No. 3 seed out of the Pacific View League for girls' tennis and won its first game against Cabrillo/ Lompoc on Tuesday, 12-6. The Scorpions played Cerritos yesterday. Cerritos was the Suburban League's No. 1 seed.

Both girls' tennis scores weren't available prior to press. For girls' volleyball, both Camarillo and Rio Mesa made the postseason out of the Pacific View League.

Camarillo earned the Pacific View League's No. 2 seed and beat Bishop Amat on Tuesday. Camarillo played South Hills last night but as of press time the score was not available.

"Momentum is the key," Camarillo head coach Rob Vandermay said. "It didn't show at the start of this game (Bishop Amat) but it showed in games four and five.

"We were making mistakes on things we were doing great previously in practice. I think maybe the players were trying a little too hard when it came to that, maybe they were thinking too much instead of just going out and performing," he said.

For Camarillo to advance, they will have to play better earlier in games. Alyssa Melford, who had 17 kills against Bishop Amat, will be looked upon to be one of the leaders for ACHS.

"She started out a little shaky in the first couple games," Vandermay said. "She really picked it up in games four and five and we need that. She is our go-to player and I've only seen one or two teams that have been able to stop her this year."

Also making the postseason in girls' volleyball is Rio Mesa, who earned a No. 3 seed out of the Pacific View League. Like Camarillo, the Spartans finished 7-3 in league this year.

The teams have the potential to face each other in the semifinals if each wins their first three games.