Maderans in College: Madera runners help Sunbirds

Heavy with former Madera-area runners, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds cross country teams had a impressive run at the UC Riverside Invitational on Sept. 17.

Ann Poythress (Madera) and Jonnie Montano (Madera South) helped the Sunbirds break a school record for team time and placed 13th overall.

Poythress was the second finisher for the Sunbirds in 35h place. Montano ran in the 5K race and placed 61st.

On the men’s side, Ismael Guzman (Madera South) helped the Sunbirds team to a 14th place finish. He was third on the Sunbirds in 45th place.

Dominique Andrews (Madera South) recorded 12 kills in two matches for the UC Merced women’s volleyball team last week. She had five kills in a three-set loss to Embry-Riddle on Sept. 16 and put down seven kills in a four-set loss against Benedictine on Sept. 17.

Miranda Brunner (Madera) had a kill and two digs in a three-set loss to Benedictine University on Sept. 16 for Antelope Valley. She also had three digs in a three-set loss to Embry-Riddle on Sept. 17.

In a 3-1 win over UC Irvine on Sept. 15, Brielle Hefner (Madera) recorded a career-high 11 kills for the Fresno State women’s volleyball team, which she has reached three times this season. She also recorded nine more kills in a four-set loss to Colorado State on Thursday.

Lilly Martinez (Madera South) recorded seven kills in a three-set loss to Simpson on Sept. 15. She also added a kill in a three-set loss to Missouri Valley.

Marcus McCoy (Madera South) recorded five tackles, including two solo, for Upper Iowa University on Sept. 17 in a 23-21 loss to MSU Moorhead.

In a loss to Wyoming on Sept. 17, UC Davis lineman Hunter O’Brion (Liberty) recorded a solo tackle.

Fresno City College women’s soccer player Jasmine Garibay (Madera South) assisted Stallions’ teammate Leila Monzon on a goal in a 2-0 victory over Sierra on Sept. 17. Juliet Trembley (Madera) and Oksana Reynoso (Madera) started in the match.

Merced College women’s volleyball player Kinsey Kerby (Madera) recorded three kills in a three-set loss to Fresno City on Sept. 16. She added three more in a three-set victory over Merced on Wednesday.

Although Jackson Watts (Liberty) was limited to just one return of 13 yards in kick return duties for Merced College against Shasta on Sept. 17, he did his damage returning three punts for 82 yards, averaging 27.3 yards per return.

In a 44-28 loss to Diablo Valley on Sept. 17, College of the Sequoias safety Logan Pierce (Liberty) was second on the team with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss and five solo tackles.

Quarterback Vincent Espinoza (Madera) was 6-of-11 for 57 yards and threw an interception in a Sept. 17 victory over Yuba College.