MONARCHS DEFEAT LIONS: The @jserra.boysvolleyball team put forth a spirited effort against Mater Dei in Trinity League action on Monday, but the Monarchs took home a 25-15, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21 triumph over the Lions at JSerra Catholic High School.

After Mater Dei surged to an impressive win in the opening set, the Lions answered back.

Started by a kill from senior Thomas Chugay that snapped a 9-9 tie, the Lions tallied six straight points to grab a 15-9 lead.

Mater Dei fought back to tie the score at 23-23, but an impressive block from Chugay and a kill from senior Hunter Frates gave the Lions a 25-23 win to tie the match.

The Monarchs responded with another strong win in the third set to grab a 2-1 lead in the match, but the Lions continued to battle.

JSerra opened up an early four-point lead in the fourth set, and though the Monarchs rallied to take a three-point lead, the Lions fought back and pulled ahead 21-20.

But Mater Dei seized five of the final six points to close out the set and seal the four-set victory.

Junior Kevin O’Hara led the Lions with 12 kills.

Frates and fellow senior Darren Chi each added six kills.

Junior Trey Assad recorded a team-high 15 digs.

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LIONS GROUND EAGLES: The @jserra.boys_tennis team closed out the first half of Trinity League play with another impressive performance on Monday, as the Lions dispatched the Santa Margarita Eagles 15-3 at JSerra Catholic High School.

JSerra improves to 15-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 to start league.

Sophomore Rafael Shaikh (7-5, 6-0, 6-0) and senior Cade Faul (6-0, 6-2, 6-0) spearheaded the Lions’ strong day in singles action.

Junior Kayden Kral also added wins of 6-2 and 6-0.

Seniors HB Warner and Connor Faul enjoyed a perfect day in doubles play with triumphs of 6-2, 6-3, and 6-0.

Senior Emilio Salgado and junior Enzo Biundo also turned in a tandem sweep with victories of 6-4, 6-3, and 7-5.

Junior Robert Thornton and freshman Aiden Andren added a set victory of 6-2.

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FRIARS EDGE LIONS: The @jserra.baseball team and the Servite Friars opened their Trinity League series on Monday, with Servite slipping past the Lions 5-4 at Servite High School in Anaheim.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Sophomore Owen Mescall led off the game with a triple to center field, and two batters later, senior Brise Boop hit an RBI sacrifice fly to center to score Mescall.

Servite took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, added a run in the bottom of the third inning, and tacked on two more in the bottom of the fourth inning to seize a 5-1 advantage.

JSerra rallied in the top of the fifth inning.

Back-to-back-to-back singles from Mescall, junior Shane D’Arcy, and senior Blake Bowen loaded the bases with one out.

Senior Brise Boop followed with an RBI single to left field to score sophomore pitch runner Cameron Hill to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Junior Ayden Coleman followed with an RBI single to left field to plate D’Arcy and narrow the margin to 5-3.

Freshman Joey Koenig followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to bring home Bowen and pull the Lions to within in a run.

Seventh inning singles by D’Arcy and Boop put the tying and go-ahead runners on base with one out.

But the Friars worked out of the jam to preserve a one-run triumph.

JSerra is now 5-8 overall.

The two teams will resume their series on Tuesday at JSerra Catholic High School.

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