Ella Woodhead scored five goals, recorded an assist and made three steals in helping the Sacred Heart Prep girls water polo team beat St. Francis in the championship match of the West Catholic Athletic League tournament Saturday.

Kate Mallery scored three goals for second-seeded Gunn but the Titans fell to No. 1 seed Los Gatos 9-8 in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division tournament Saturday at Gunn.

Gunn High opened the Central Coast Section Division I volleyball playoffs with a 25-12, 25-18, 25-15 victory over visiting Alvarez on Saturday night as senior Odeya Russo recorded 31 kills and fellow senior Rachel Grant added 21.

Palo Alto dropped an 18-8 decision to visiting Los Altos in the SCVAL boys water polo title match on Saturday.

Sacred Heart Prep (22-3) won its sixth straight WCAL tournament title and will be looking to return to the championship match of the Central Coast Section Open Division. The Gators had their 10-year championship run end two years ago and fell in last year’s semifinal round.

SHP scored the first six goals against the Lancers and was never threatened. St. Francis pulled to within 6-3 at one point but that was as close as it got.

Bella Bachler and Eleanor Facey each scored three goals and had an assist for the Gators, Alexandra Szczerba scored twice and Annabel Facey added a pair of assists.

The Titans (17-7) never trailed by more than two goals in their game with the Wildcats, who took two of the three matchups between the teams this season. They’ve met in the SCVAL title game the past four years.

Mallery gave Gunn its only at 5-4 with a goal midway through the second period. The game was tied on four other occasions.

Kenze Ashworth scored one of her two goals with 3:41 remaining to play and the Titans had several other chances to tie the match.

Cooper McKenna was held to one goal, one assist and one steal as the Wildcats gave her plenty of attention. Molly Wilkinson and Isobel Taylor also scored for Gunn and Jenny Gao had two assists.

The water polo seeding meeting will be held Sunday at the CCS office. Sacred Heart Prep is the presumptive Open Division No. 1 seed and Los Gatos or St. Francis will likely gain a No. 2 seed. Castilleja is assured of a spot and Menlo School and Gunn could also qualify for the Open Division.

Click here for the full article...