CC Roundup: Griffins men’s water polo dominates Mesa

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: October 3, 2024

2024 COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Men’s Water Polo / Women’s Volleyball / Women’s & Men’s Soccer

ECS staff report

Tyrent Lackey

KEARNY MESA – he expected chasllenge to the grossmont ollege men’s water team failed to materialize.

The Griffins raced to a quick 7-0 first-period lead, waltzing past host San Diego Mesa, 20-10, on Wednesday (Oct. 2). The advantage reached 12-2 before Hall of Fame head coach Tyrent Lackey cleared the bench in the second period.

With every other team in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference sporting a sub-.500 record, the victory, Grossmont is virtualy guaranteed a CCCAA state playoff berth.

The early lead saw Jake Simpson (Grossmont HS) score three times, while Ryan Motta (Grossmont HS) tallied twice. The other early goals came from Paul Rico (Hilltop) and Lucas Draper (Patrick Henry).

Meanwhile, San Diego Mesa fell to 1-5 overall (0-1 PCAC) in drooping its fifth straight. The Olympians have been out-scored 125-46 during the skid, including a 25-0 shutout pasting by unranked Ventura on Sept. 13.

The blanking is reminiscent of last season’s women’s basketball wipeout, when Palomar blanked Southwestern, 120-0, to set what is beloved to be a state record.

The previous known blowouts were set by Santa Monica when they whipped Los Angeles City, 112-4 and 120-8, in conference play back in the 1983 spring season. Needless-to-say, the LACC Cubs administration dropped the program in the ensuing off=season.

Women’s Water Polo

NORWALK – Grossmont College rrcreives its final challenge before conference play by meeting Golden West and Cerritos College on Friday.

Then it’s on to the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference circuit’s top two teams meet in Wednesday’s (Oct. 8) opener.

Grossmont will take on 7th-ranked San Diego Miarmar at a site to be announced, The match-up will probably take place at Grante Hills High, starting at w p.m.

The Griffins (7-3 overall) opened the season at 3-3, but have now punched out four straight victories, capped by a nice 12-10 decision at Mt. San Antonio.

For Grossmont, Kristen Furuholmen (Grossmont HS) ranks fifth in the PCAC in goals, but is just three goals shy of second place.

Women’s Volleyball

SAN MARCOS – Grossmont College bounced back from a tough setback to MiraCosta by sweeping host Palomar in three sets (25-22, 25-22, 26-24), Wednesday (Oct. 2) at Palomar Dome.

Palomar failed to supple a boxscore.

Meanwhile, MiraCosta felt motivated in facing state No. 1 San Diego Mesa after defeating defending PCAC conference champion Grossmont. However, they failed to deliver.

San Diego Mesa obliterated the Spartans in three quick sets (25-15, 25-20, 25-15)) at Crosswoods Gymnasium in Oceanside.

The blocking of the Spartans was simply not there, as the Olympians scored 37 of their 75 points on kills. The indiidual leader was Bella Town with 8.

Elsewhere in the PCAC, Imperial Valley also registered a road triumph, stopping Cuyamaca College in four sets (25-19, 9-25, 25-23, 25-23).

No boxscore was supplied by the host Coyotes. PHOTOS

Men’s Soccer

RANCHO SAN DIEGO – Cuyamaca College rests in a three-way tie for third place in the PCAC, one full game behind front-running Southwestern.

Overall, the Coyotes are also at .500 at 4-4-2 for the season.Southwestern is the lone club above level play at 4-3-2.

The two clubs met on Tuesday (Oct. 1), finishing tied at 1-all.

Isaac Sanchez (Bonita Vista) scored in the 90th minute to salvage the draw. Assists went to Juan Mateo Mahecha (Columbia) and Joshua Sarabia (Sweetwater). All three players are transfers from Southwestern.