Jessica Backhus of Napa recently accepted a position with the Skyline Volleyball Club. Backhus, who played right-side hitter for NCAA-Division I Saint Peter’s College of New Jersey after a successful high school career, will be the club coach for Skyline VBC and will also be responsible for volleyball operations.

“We are glad to have a talent like Jessica leading our club,” said Skyline director Mike Beatty. “Her work with club volleyball in our area has been superb.”

Backhus played volleyball at Saint Peters from 1998 to 2001. During the 2000 season, she averaged 12.15 digs and 3.97 blocks per game. She ranks among the school leaders for career solo blocks, block assists, total blocks and blocks per game.

Her goal as a coach is to train, lead and assist all young athletes who want to play volleyball in college because of the positive impact her collegiate athletic experience had on her life.

“As Skyline’s club coach, I have high expectations not only for myself, but for your children and the potential of this club,” Backhus said. “Club seasons are an important time for development and growth, on and off the court.”

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Robert Exum of Napa deadlifted 622 pounds and took second place at the WABDL (World Association of Bench Pressers & Deadlifters) World Bench Press and Deadlift Championships Saturday. The contest was held at the Peppermill Hotel in Reno.

Exum competed in the masters 40-46 age group/242-pound weight class.

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Prabhjeet Grewal of American Canyon won the NTRP (National Tennis Rating Program) men’s 3.0 singles division at the Sonoma State University Fall Open, a U.S. Tennis Association-Northern California tournament, last month.

Grewal had wins over David Hirschkop of San Rafael in the quarterfinals (6-1, 6-3), Phillip Belleau of San Francisco in the semifinals (6-1, 6-2), and Chris Cassee of Rohnert Park in the finals (6-4, 6-2).

Ken Leahy of Napa lost in the quarterfinals of the NTRP men’s 3.5 singles division to Avi Gallant of Vallejo, 6-2, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Diana Camacho of Napa won in the quarterfinals of the Lamorinda Junior Open & Novice Classic in the girls 16 open division.

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Rachel Pickett played 47 minutes for the Fresno State women’s soccer team in a 2-1 Western Athletic Conference loss to San Jose State last week.

Pickett is a Napa High graduate.

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Jocelyn Phillips placed in several events, helping the Florida State University women’s swimming and diving team to a fifth-place finish at the SMU Classic in Dallas last week.

Phillips, a former Vintage High swimmer who also swam for the Napa Valley Swim Team, took second in the 200 freestyle and ninth in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle for the Seminoles.

Phillips also swam on the Seminoles’ fourth-place 800 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay teams.

The meet also featured the University of Florida, University of Louisville, University of Wisconsin, Rice University and Southern Methodist University.

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Max Alvarez started at forward for the Sacramento State men’s soccer team and had an assist as the Hornets clinched their first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season championship since 2001 with a 1-1 double overtime tie at UNLV on Sunday.

The Hornets (9-5-2 overall, 5-0-1 MPSF) scored in the fourth minute as Scott Crandall found the back of the net off of a free kick from the foot of Alvarez, a freshman from Napa. It was Alvarez’s team-leading 18th point.

Sacramento clinched the regular season crown with 16 points and advances to the MPSF Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The tournament is Nov. 12-15 in Denver.

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Vintage High principal Craig Lewis is my guest in November on Napa Community Public Access TV.

The half-hour show, “Register Sports with Marty James,” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. and Mondays at noon on Napa Valley TV-Channel 28.

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Santa Rosa Junior College (5-3) is one of several teams listed on the bubble in the latest JCGridiron.com Dirty 30 football rankings.

E-mail Executive Sports Editor Marty James at mjames@napanews.com or call 256-2223.