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Rock Academy rides hot streak past The Monarch School for Divsion 5-AA volleyball title

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Rock Academy rides hot streak past The Monarch School for Divsion 5-AA volleyball title


OCEANSIDE — When Rock Academy faced Hilltop in an early-season girls volleyball tournament, it got destroyed. Things got so bad that the Warriors notched only four kills in two sets and lost the second set, 25-3.

Apparently, you learn more from your losses than your wins.

Rock Academy ran its winning streak to 17 straight matches with Thursday’s 25-16, 15-25, 25-16, 25-27, 15-4 win over The Monarch School in the Division 5-AA championship match. It was the most important win of them all, as it resulted in the first CIF San Diego Section championship in program history.

The Warriors (23-1) lost in last year’s championship match to Calipatria in four sets, so redemption was clearly a motivator.

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Junior outside hitter Alexa Baird led the way for Rock Academy with 15 kills and three aces.

For the Royals, who came in on a 12-match winning streak, simply getting here was a victory. This was the furthest trip for the school that features students who are either currently or recently unhoused.

The Royals (18-7) were led by senior outside hitter Chantal Bocanegra, who notched nine kills with four aces and two blocks.

Royals junior outside hitter Daphne Allen put away three straight balls in the middle to tie set one at 13 before Rock Academy’s offense caught fire. Baird had three kills near the end of the set.

Rock Academy’s Aliya Landes hits against Monarch’s Mya Montero and Chantal Bocanegra during the CIF San Diego Section Division 5AA championship game at MiraCosta College on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024 in Oceanside, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Royals appeared to be ending the night early in the second set as the Warriors went up 4-0 on two Martha Mulumbilwa kills and two Aliya Landes aces. That’s when Jennifer Bocanegra took over.

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She had a kill in serve receive to get the Royals on the board then dialed up three straight aces.

She combined with Allen on a stuff block for an 11-7 lead. Allen had two late kills then Bocanegra crushed a ball on the outside after a long rally for a 23-15 lead in a set they’d take 25-15.

The third set was mostly back and forth .The Royals went up 8-6 before the Warriors offense got stronger. Mulumbilwa got a stuff block for a 10-8 lead. Parker Duhs notched a pair of aces after a timeout.

Before the Royals could call another timeout, the deficit was 19-12. Mulumbilwa ended set three with a huge kill on the outside in serve receive.

Not surprisingly, set four was neck and neck. Allen had three early kills, but the well-rounded Warriors attack kept it close. And then the Royals refused to let balls drop on their side, raising their defensive effort to a championship level. An 18-11 lead turned in a nail-biting 27-25 win to send it to a fifth set.

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Riki Salas Smith served an ace for the Royals to start set five. The early part of the set was like two boxers in the 12th round exchanging swings (and sometimes errors). It was 3-3 before Rock Academy went on a run for the ages, closing it out with a 15-4 win.



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San Diego, CA

San Marcos fire forces hundreds to evacuate

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San Marcos fire forces hundreds to evacuate


A brush fire in San Marcos forced hundreds of families to evacuate their homes Sunday afternoon.

It happened near the Cal State San Marcos campus in the 500 Block of La Moree Road.

“I was at home when an amazing sheriff literally pounded on the door, broke in, grabbed me, grabbed my dogs and said…you’ve got to get out of here. Fire is behind your house,” Daun Everforest said.

Everforest was among hundreds of families evacuated to Mission Hills High School after a brush fire threatened their homes Sunday afternoon.

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Neighbors said the fire came really close to homes on the nearby hillside.

“My daughter came running into our back bedroom and she said mom you’ve got to come there’s a fire on the hill,” Angel Martinez said.

“I stepped outside and I saw just everything was just blazing,” Ethan Ochoa, another neighbor said.

San Marcos Fire Department said crews responded to a call about a brush fire at around 3p.m. Sunday afternoon.

The first unit on scene found the fire spread out to about one acre with the heavy fuels.

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A division fire marshal told NBC 7 the brush fire prompted a large response, with at least 30 fire engines, air support from Cal Fire, and Sheriff’s Deputies on the ground to help with evacuations.

Hand crews were able to establish fuel break to stop the fire from spreading and several firefighters stuck around to mop up hot spots.

Fire investigators said no one was injured, but one storage container was damaged.  

Neighbors are thankful firefighters acted quickly to stop the flames.

“I’m so grateful for you guys,” Daun Everforest said.

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Fire crews were able to stop the forward rate of spread at 1.93 acres. at around 4 p.m.

Neighbors like Angel said this is a great reminder to always have a plan in case a fire starts in your neighborhood.

“Know your area”… “Read up on safety and get your to-go bags ready,” she said.

Investigators are looking into the possible cause of the fire.

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San Diego, CA

Lincoln High School honors Olympic legend Jackie Thompson

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Lincoln High School honors Olympic legend Jackie Thompson


SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Lincoln High School students and community members are coming together this coming week to honor local Olympic legend Jackie Thompson.

Thompson competed at the Summer Olympic Games back in 1972 in the 200-meter sprint. She joined KUSI in-studio on Sunday, reflecting fondly on her time at the games that were held in Munich (see interview above).

This week, Lincoln High School will be hosting a track meet at their newly redone track where they will be hosting a ribbon cutting and dedicating the track to Thompson. The event will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 9.

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The Best Seat in the House Might Be at the Omni San Diego Hotel

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The Best Seat in the House Might Be at the Omni San Diego Hotel


Padres season is here, and one place in the city that absolutely delivers on game-day energy is the Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just looking for a fun downtown escape, this is the kind of stay that’s hard to beat.

The Only Hotel in the U.S. With a Private Skybridge to a Ballpark

The Omni’s private pedestrian skybridge connects directly into Petco Park. This means you can go from rooftop cocktails to first pitch without ever touching a crowded sidewalk. It’s genuinely what sets this hotel apart from anywhere else in the city.

On top of that, the skybridge comes with VIP game-day perks – behind-the-scenes stadium tours, access to the Padres Hall of Fame, the Field Warning Track, and private luxury suites. Ultimately, it’s the kind of access that makes a Padres game feel like a whole different experience.

New Packages Worth Knowing About This Season

The Game Day for 2 package includes 15% off your stay, two premium tickets to a home game, Lexus Club access, and prime seats right behind home plate. It’s a solid upgrade for a date night or a fun outing with your go-to game-day crew.

The Baseball Package covers deluxe accommodations, a baseball-themed welcome amenity with Cracker Jacks and local brews, a $50 food and beverage credit at Tortuga, and Skybridge access.

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For locals wanting a quick downtown escape without the baseball add-ons, the Springtime Savings deal offers 15% off stays through May 31. However, this discount is only available when booked by April 19.

Game-Day Bites and Rooftop Drinks to Round Out the Experience

Ace Porter has a game-day-themed menu featuring snacks like fried pickles, loaded fries, and birria sliders, alongside heartier mains – fun without being gimmicky. This makes it a great spot to settle in before heading across the skybridge.

After the final out, Tortuga’s 8,000-square-foot rooftop terrace serves Baja-inspired bites like grilled fish tacos and shrimp and adobada quesadillas, refreshing cocktails, and sweeping skyline views. Because of this, post-game celebrations have a way of stretching a little longer up there – and that’s perfectly fine.

See you there!

The Padres season runs through the fall, so there’s plenty of time to make a game-day stay at the Omni happen. Don’t sleep on those spring deals, though.

📍 675 L Street, San Diego
🎟️ Explore their offers here
ℹ️ Visit their website here for more details

See you there, San Diego!

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