Wolverines

LOS ANGELES - When the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy swimming team took its seat atop the Mission League back last year, it did so with depth. It takes a different approach this year for the Tologs, who relied on their stars of Kirsten Vose, Katie Altmayer, Emily Balog and Kate Herrill to deliver a 99-84 victory over host Harvard-Westlake in a league dual meet Tuesday at Loyola High. That foursome started the meet with a win and CIF Southern Section Division I postseason consideration time in the 200-yard medley of 1 minute, 54.39 seconds and at least one member of that group had a hand in all nine of the Tologs' wins on the day. Flintrdge Sacred Heart won just five events in a 99-77 win over Harvard Westlake last season.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Trailing by 26 points with less than 11 minutes remaining, the St. Francis High football team finally got back on track. A couple of recovered onside kicks led to two touchdowns. And the Golden Knights had one last chance to complete a miraculous comeback, but saw their bid fall short in the closing seconds. “It was a valiant effort and they fought to the end,” said St. Francis Coach Jim Bonds, whose team suffered a 41-36 road Mission League loss against Harvard-Westlake on Friday night.

PASADENA - With virtually an all new lineup in play this season, the members of the St. Francis High golf team have an eye toward reaching the CIF playoffs for the first time since 2009. In trying to achieve that goal during the next two months, the Golden Knights figure to be involved in some close Mission League matches to test their fortitude. So far, the Golden Knights have met essentially every challenge thrown their way and, in the process, are off to an undefeated start to league.

VALLEY GLEN - Hoover High boys' tennis Coach Julie Hoppe knew her team had a daunting task in traveling to face third-seeded Harvard-Westlake for its CIF Southern Section Division I match on Wednesday. And while the match at L.A. Valley College didn't result in a major upset, rather a 15-3 win for Harvard-Westlake, Hoppe was pleased with her team's effort and overall showing against the Mission League champion Wolverines. “We knew coming in they were a really good team,” said Hoppe, who coached the Tornadoes to a 9-7 record and third-place finish in the Pacific League.

St. Francis High junior boys? tennis standout Vinni Lodolo made history on Wednesday afternoon at the Studio City Tennis Center. Lodolo broke Harvard-Westlake?s decade-long streak of Mission League individual champions when he won the league singles crown. He bested Wolverines No. 2 singles player Matt Wagner, 6-3, 3-6, 10-4 for the championship. In the semifinal, which he advanced to a season prior, Lodolo, the tournament?s top seed, defeated Wolverines No. 3 player Andrew Berman, 6-1, 6-0. A Harvard-Westlake player had won the tournament every year since 1998.

Mirjam Swanson NORTH HOLLYWOOD -- The Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy girls' soccer team was in it for so long in their 4-1 Mission League loss to Harvard-Westlake High on Wednesday, trailing only 1-0 at the half. Not that the Wolverines (12-1-4, 6-0 in league) didn't have chances. They took 10 first-half shots and even put together a series of three straight corner kicks. Credit Harvard-Westlake's lack of scoring to a the defensive effort by Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — While the intimidating confines of the Harvard-Westlake gymnasium have never been a favorite venue of the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy volleyball team over the years, the youthful Tologs team that challenged the Mission League-champion Wolverines on Tuesday night found the environment particularly unsettling. Sacred Heart had no fear of Harvard-Westlake early, holding a lead late into the first game. But once the Wolverines got comfortable and turned things decisively in their favor midway through the second game it wasn’t long before they were able to lay claim to a 25-21, 25-17, 25-14 victory.

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The Harvard-Westlake girls' volleyball team is simply fun to watch and when the Wolverines get down to business and stop toying with opponents, they're nearly unstoppable. La Canada crossed the Wolverines' path in the CIF Southern Section Division IIIA second round, but Kevin Boyke's team just didn't stand a chance. The Spartans were eliminated from the playoffs for the second straight year, this time, falling, 15-5, 15-6, 15-10, Saturday night at home.

For a second season in a row, the Hoover High boys' tennis team finds itself in the CIF Southern Section playoffs and the Tornadoes find themselves with a daunting task. Hoover is set to face Harvard-Westlake, the third seed in the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs, in the first round on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Elsewhere in Division I, Crescenta Valley will host Redondo Union in Tuesday's wild-card round, while Flintridge Prep, in Division II, will travel to face Walnut in a Division II wild-card matchup.

Charles Rich Several vulnerable moments heartlessly teased the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy girls' volleyball team. Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Nancy Tinkham hadn't been prepared for such an act. Nor were her players. The Tologs couldn't capitalize on North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake's vulnerability Thursday during an 15-8, 18-16, 13-15, 17-15 Mission League loss at Harvard-Westlake. Harvard-Westlake (21-4, 8-0 in league) completed a two-match sweep against the Tologs (15-4, 6-2)