In this issue: SDSU golf athlete shines, USD volleyball continues its streak, and our Timeout Terms are golf-related. You may know Birdie and Eagle, but do you know Albatross and Condor? You may even be able to impress your favorite pros with these. We’ll keep you updated on all things Wave FC (this week it’s the continuing saga of Jill Ellis and the owners), and PLNU’s basketball exhibition game was a laugher.

The Wave FC won big when their backs were against the wall, securing a playoff spot with one regular-season game remaining. With another win on Nov 2, the Wave will finish third or fourth and score home advantage for at least their first playoff game. Stay tuned for the Wave versus Current preview coming out later this week.

And, former Wave president Jill Ellis was sued by new team owners in September. Read more here.

LIHUE, Hawai’i — Among 112 golfers from 19 universities, SDSU’s Ema Narita finished tied for sixth at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational. That’s an elite top-five-percent finish for the junior from Tokyo. Narita led off her first round with a five-under par 67, her career best. In that round, she birdied five of the last 10 holes. Congrats, Ema!

Birdie, Eagle, Albatross, and Condor. Today’s golf terms indicate the number of strokes under par it takes a golfer to get the ball into the hole. A Birdie means the golfer scores the hole one under par. An Eagle, two under. An Albatross is finishing a hole three below par. For example, “You make a hole in one on a par 4 or a 2 on a par five. Also known as a double eagle” (Source: Sunday Golf). The rarest is a Condor, or scoring four shots under par. A Condor can only happen on a hole-in-one on a par five, or scoring a 2 on a par six. (Source: National Club Golfer).

USD volleyball extended its win streak to nine with a 3-2 reverse sweep at Washington State, 23-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-10, 15-8, at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Setter Kylie Munday spread the love with four players recording double-digit kills: Nemo Beach (18), graduate transfer Kali Engeman (15), Isabel Clark (11), and Ava Durgan, twice named WCC Freshman of the Week, with 10, a career high.

Aztec redshirt freshman Alexis Leath (West Hill HS) scored twice in the second half to draw with Colorado State, 2-2, in Fort Collins on Wednesday. Just past the 50-minute mark, Leath blasted the ball to the bottom right corner of the goal off an assist by Alexys Ocampo. In the 60th minute, Leath scored again off a Katie Senn corner kick.

On Sunday at home, the Aztecs (7-4-6, 3-2-4 MW) needed just one goal for the win over Wyoming, with a Mia Hambro Svendsen goal and a Kailey Carlen (Chula Vista) shutout.

Point Loma dominated La Sierra in their home exhibition game on Saturday, 101-24. Read more here.

SDSU volleyball has struggled to close sets in three of its last four match ups. Against Grand Canyon, the Aztecs were on the verge of a set win and up 23-18 when the Lopes went on a 7-0 run to close out the first set, 25-23. Versus UNLV, the Aztecs were up 24-22 and failed to close out the second set, losing 29-27. Against Utah State the team once again stalled, this time in the third set, up 21-16. The Aztecs then lost nine straight and the set, 25-21. Oof. Three set opportunities squandered, three losses.

The Aztecs rallied at Boise State on Saturday, however, winning 3-1. Four players tallied double-digit kills, including Taylor Underwood (18), Annelise Rising (16), Ella Schabort (14), and Talea Mitchell (10). Kendall Mairs contributed her eighth double-double of the year with 26 assists and 19 digs, while Sarena Gonzalez (Temecula Valley HS) added 24 assists.

Find the answer in today’s newsletter! (Hint: check out our Timeout Terminology)