Erik Boal
In an effort to keep track of local high school athletes who now
compete in college, the News-Press will devote space twice a week,
usually Mondays and Thursdays, to an update:
Mele Misi (Crescenta Valley, 2000) junior opposite hitter, Fordham
University women's volleyball -- The 1998 News-Press All-Area
honorable mention selection carried the Rams (5-4) to the
championship of the Drake Invitational on Sunday in Des Moines, Iowa,
so it was only fitting that she be rewarded with tournament most
valuable player honors.
Misi tallied 16 kills, three digs, three blocks and five assists
in Sunday's championship victory against Creighton and finished the
tournament with 40 kills, 19 digs and 11 blocks in 13 games, which
included a five-game triumph against Drake and a sweep of Chicago
State on Friday.
For the season, the former All-Pacific League first-team selection
has 78 kills, 71 digs, 18 aces and 16 blocks in 30 games, giving her
402 kills, 401 digs, 90 blocks and 57 aces in 61 career matches and
188 career games.
Russell Bernstein (La Canada, 1998) senior goalkeeper, Cal men's
water polo -- In a tournament loaded with quality goalkeepers,
Bernstein had no problem establishing himself as one of the best in
the nation, leading the Golden Bears to three victories Saturday and
Sunday.
Cal (3-1) took third in the USC-hosted Southern California
Tournament, which featured 12 teams all ranked in American Water Polo
Coaches Assn. Division I national top 20 poll, posting a 9-7 victory
against No. 11 University of the Pacific in Sunday's third-place
match.
Bernstein -- the 1997 News-Press All-Area co-Player of the Year --
recorded nine saves, giving him 18 in three tournament matches.
The returning third-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
honoree tallied eight saves in Saturday's 11-8 overtime victory
against No. 2 UCLA and added one save in one half of action in
Saturday's 15-5 triumph against Navy.
An honorable mention All-America selection last season, Bernstein
-- who didn't play in Sunday's 8-7 semifinal loss to top-ranked
Stanford -- has 279 saves in 47 career matches for No. 4 Cal.
Kevin Witt (Glendale, 1999) senior driver, Loyola Marymount
University men's water polo -- Not even the return of the two-time
All-American could help the Lions in Saturday and Sunday's Southern
California Tournament at USC's McDonald's Swim Stadium.
Despite Witt, a two-time All-Western Water Polo Assn. honoree,
tallying five goals, two assists and two steals in four matches,
