Sports
Battle of the battleships
LCA beat Gorman Monday at girls volleyball. Keziah Mendez, a freshman, playing only her third game ever, finished them off with a spike.
By Michael Ashcraft --
Her older sister was quiet, studious and not too sporty. So who was the expect that the younger sister would be loud and make the game-winning hit as a freshman who was in her third game ever?
But Keziah Mendez won the wild cheers of the hometown fans, hitting a smartly-angled ball over the net that Gorman Learning Center couldn't return for the last point of the game.
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She's 5'0", and prior to joining Lighthouse Christian Academy of Santa Monica, she had never played volleyball, not even at church.
"That was really nice," she said modestly, deflecting credit. "I missed multiple passes. I hit a few balls that were out. The one ball that was in, I let it go by. The girls on the team are very nice, and the coach is very encouraging."
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Oh, then there was the dive to the ground to rescue a team play. Keziah dove like Superwoman, popped up the ball just before it was going to hit the floor and kept it in play for a Lighthouse victory.
Where did she get this atheleticism from?
"Kesia is a firecracker," Coach Jessica Scribner said. "She has a lot of fire inside of her. She's doing pretty good. It's the first time she's ever played. She different than (her sister) Genesis. She's a fighter. She's agressive."
Private school volleyball is a little like a naval battle between warships. Larger nations with more resources tend to blow up their enemies in the water. Last week, Lighthouse went up against the fearsome Yamato when it faced experienced and tall Hillcrest Christian. It was LCA's only loss so far this season.
But on Monday, the Saints were the big boats with the big guns.
Clara Czer was slamming aces so hot they seemed slathered with Valentino hot sauce. Nine aces in a row helped LCA ease to the win.
Frida Macias took on the character of Thor as she flung hammer-like balls over the net on serves and spikes.
As always, the driving force behind LCA, sophomore Allie Scribner, was everwhere. If it's not her knuckleball serves, it's her hits or her amazing setting.
Read about LCA's other games:
Michael Ashcraft teaches journalism at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Santa Monica.
