Big 8 play underway for Wolverine athletics

Here's a look around the Sierra College sports landscape. WOMEN'S SOCCER Sierra women's soccer wrapped up a 6-1 September after a 5-0 victory over Sacramento City College Thursday to move to 3-1 in the Big 8 Conference. The Wolverines, who ranked eighth in the state in the latest California Community College Sports Information Association, suffered just their second loss of the season at San Joaquin Delta last Friday. Laney Paduveris has played well for Sierra over the past two weeks. The Whitney High product assisted on all three Sierra goals in the win over Foothill Sept. 13. She then scored twice in the 2-1 win over Modesto on Sept. 17 and booted in another goal in the 4-1 win over American River Tuesday. Paige Martinsen (Del Oro), Laura Prine (Golden Sierra) and Frances Andrade (Antelope) also scored for the Wolverines Tuesday. Sierra (8-2) continues Big 8 play next Friday, Oct. 4, at Diablo Valley College. WOMEN'S WATER POLO The defending State women's water polo champions began their season splitting four games before Wednesday's Big 8 opener at Delta – an 8-6 victory for Sierra. Heading into conference play, the Wolverines got at least one goal in each game from Rocklin freshman Angie Calzada, who posted four goals in the 11-10 win over Ventura back on Sept. 6 in the Saddleback Tournament. The freshman goalie duo of Emily Gammelgard (Del Oro) and Samantha Churcher (Cyprus-Magna, Utah) combine for more than 16 saves per game. The Wolverines' next Big 8 game is Wednesday at American River College. MEN'S WATER POLO The Wolverines created some excitement in the men's pool at the Mt. San Antonio College Tournament last weekend. Sierra got three goals apiece from Riley Smith (Rodriguez) and Drew Grantham (Woodcreek) in the 14-6 win in the Wolverines' opener against Rio Hondo. Later in the day, Sierra erased a 9-1 first-quarter deficit and rallied to defeat Orange Coast College 11-9. Fourth-quarter goals from Grantham and Curtis Ostrander (Woodcreek) pushed the Wolverines to victory. Grantham again displayed some late-game heroics, netting the go-ahead goal in the fourth quarter of a 13-11 win over Fullerton. Daniel Fineberg (Davis) tallied six goals and four steals to lead Sierra, who lost in the finale to host Mt. SAC 9-5. Sierra began Big 8 play Wednesday with a 17-8 win at Delta. WOMEN'S GOLF Sierra women's golf began its season with four consecutive runner-up finishes. The Wolverines took second at the Aug. 27 Modesto Invitational, the first Big 8 tournament at Bartley Cavanaugh in Sacramento Sept. 5, the second Big 8 at Kennedy Park in Napa Sept. 12 and the third Big 8 at their home course, Whitney Oaks Golf Club in Rocklin Sept. 19. The Wolverines finished sixth at the three-day North-South Invitational at Santa Barbara City College last weekend. Some of Sierra's top performers have been Melanie Anderson (Folsom), Hailey Salomone (College Park of Pleasant Hill) and Jordan Rooker (Colfax), who carded the low score of 78 in the second conference tourney. Big 8 Tournament No. 4 is set for Oct. 3 at Reedley College WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL Although Sierra split two games last Thursday at the West Valley Classic, Kaleya Sanchez and Khorin Banks caught fire for the Wolverines. Sanchez (Del Norte) went for 20 and 21 kills, respectively, against West Valley and De Anza while Banks (Bella Vista) popped off for 10 and 20 in the same two matches. Sierra swept Modesto in last Friday's Big 8 Conference opener behind a more balanced offensive attack. Sanchez, Banks and Alyssa Lovell (Woodcreek) each had six kills while Cloe Gunter (Valley Christian) chipped in five. Wednesday at Folsom Lake College, Sierra won a tough four-set battle 30-28, 21-25, 25-15, 26-24. Sanchez had 16 kills and 16 digs while Jacy Dean (Colfax) and Ashley Almond (East Nicolaus) each had 13 kills. Almond also had 21 assists while Bekah McGill (Nevada Union) handed out 28. Alyssa Orteza (Placer) and Abby Schimmel (Pleasant Valley) combined for 33 digs for the winners. The Wolverines have their Big 8 home opener Friday against Cosumnes River College. WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY The Wolverines finished fourth as a team last Thursday at the Lou Vasquez Invitational at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Sierra was paced by Alyse Sibley (Colfax), who finished 11th overall at 21 minutes, 9.1 seconds in the 3.11-mile run. Following through for Sierra were Anna Larson (Bear River, 16th, 21:26.7), Mikayla Barvke (Whitney, 26th, 22:13.1), Rhiannon Repetti (Western Sierra, 28th, 22:17.1), Carlin Coulam (El Camino, 30th, 22:26.6), Sierra Iverson (Ponderosa, 31st, 22:27.8) and Diana Diaz-Guerra (Placer, 32nd, 22:44.6). Up next for Sierra is the Modesto Invite Friday and the Capital Cross Challenge in Sacramento Saturday. WRESTLING The Wolverine wrestlers went 4-0 in the Mt. SAC duals Saturday in Walnut. Sierra defeated Mt. SAC 30-22, Palomar 36-24, Rio Hondo 36-24 and East Los Angeles 27-24 to cruise through the tournament unbeaten. Sierra is scheduled to visit the West Hills College Tournament in Lemoore this weekend.