John Sanders

Sports Correspondent at Antelope Valley Press

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Articles

Royals headed to ’ship

3 days ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

QUARTZ HILL — Following the five-set, quarterfinal victory over Rio Hondo Prep on Thursday, Quartz Hill boys volleyball player Joseph Bonner said, “We must start the match against (Village Christian) the way we ended this match.”Quartz Hill dropped the first two sets to the Kares before winning the next three to advance to Saturday’s semifinals against Village Christian. Unfortunately, the Royals didn’t do that, but this time it only took them one set to figure things out.
Spirits shut out Knights

1 week ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

LANCASTER — Wednesday was an emotional day for the Paraclete baseball team. There were tears shed, as well as hugs all around. You might’ve thought that the Spirits lost the game. However, it was quite the opposite. Paraclete won the game 6-0 against Desert Christian, but the reason for all the emotions was that the Spirits don’t know what their future holds.
Royals rally past Rio Hondo Prep

1 week ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

QUARTZ HILL — It won’t be aired on ESPN as one of its “Instant Classics,” but the match between Rio Hondo Prep and Quartz Hill was definitely an instant classic. It was one of those types of matches that you hate to see either team lose. Unfortunately, one had to.
SoCal Magic falls to pro division Cali War

1 week ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

PALMDALE — It certainly wasn’t the auspicious home opener that the SoCal Magic had hoped for against perennial power, the Cali War. In only its first season in existence, the Magic started off their season strong with a 1-0 record. But entering Saturday, the Magic faced a tough test in Cali, a team two divisions higher. The War (1-1) rebounded from an opening week loss in a big way as they spoiled the home opener for SoCal with a convincing, 64-0 victory on Saturday night at Palmdale High School.
Knights reach quarterfinals for 1st time

1 week ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

LANCASTER — The Desert Christian boys volleyball team did something that it had never done before. AB Miller was the recipient of the Knights’ fortunes, albeit not something it wants to be known for. For the first time in the school’s history, Desert Christian reached the quarterfinals of CIF.
Knights win first-round match in 4 sets

2 weeks ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

LANCASTER — It’s quite possible that the Desert Christian boys volleyball team might have overlooked its first-round opponent in the opening round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 8 playoffs. It’s only natural. The Knights entered the playoffs as the division’s No. 1 seed, while their opponent, Santa Rosa Academy, was the No. 32 seed in the playoffs.
Mustangs sweep past Rosemead in playoffs

2 weeks ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

ACTON — Rosemead treated it more like a sprint. But Vasquez knew it was a marathon. And, in the end, it was the Mustangs that won the war of attrition as they wore down the visiting Panthers. Vasquez started off a little lethargic, but it began its quest for a CIF championship with an impressive 29-27, 25-18, 25-19, victory over Rosemead in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 playoffs, Tuesday night at Vasquez High School.
Marauders falter after strong start

1 month ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley College men’s volleyball team played arguably one of it best sets of the season against the fifth-ranked team in the state. AVC led 19-18, but then something happened that has been the Marauders’ Achilles heel all season. They hit a mental roadblock. “We have to learn how to win, Winning is a skill,” First-year Marauders head coach Ryan Dunham said. “The biggest thing we work on is we try not to compound our errors.
Marauders split two matches with COC

1 month ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

LANCASTER – The Antelope Valley College women’s tennis team split a pair of matches with arch-rival, College of the Canyons, Friday afternoon at Antelope Valley College. The Marauders dropped the first match 5-3, however, responded in the second to defeat the Cougars 5-4. The two matches were makeups from rainouts that twice forced the matches to be rescheduled. With the season coming to a close and the matches needing to be played, both schools decided on a double header for Friday.
Local Athletes shine at Invitational

1 month ago | avpress.com | John Sanders

PALMDALE – Don’t blink, because you might’ve missed it. The Valley was well represented as track and field athletes showcased their talents with speed, jumping and throwing at the annual Desert Christian-Eastside Invitational held at Pete Knight High School on Saturday. “It’s been growing every year. There was a lot of really good competition,” co-meet director and Desert Christian head coach Andy Visokey said. “This is about the kids winning medals and having fun.