Qazaishvili has cashed in
Georgian earns highest salary on the Earthquakes
Earthquakes newcomer Valeri Qazaishvili is the highest-paid player in team history, earning $1.4 million annually according to figures released this week by the Major League Soccer Players Union.
The Georgian midfielder has not disappointed after a slow start. Qazaishvili has four goals and two assists in 11 appearances since signing with the Quakes in June. Swiss defender Francois Affolter — the team’s only other midsummer acquisition — is making $154,250.
Qazaishvili, 24, surpassed captain Chris Wondolowski and English striker Simon Dawkins as the team’s highest-paid player. Wondolowski and Dawkins each are earning $800,000, as previously reported when the first set of salary figures were released in the spring.
The previous high was $1.3 million for Innocent Emeghara, who scored once in 13 appearances in a vastly disappointing two years in San Jose.
The union said the annual guaranteed compensation figure it lists includes a player’s base salary and all signing and guaranteed bonuses annualized over the term of the player’s contract.
The league, which handles all contracts, does not release salary information.
Swimming
Cal finished off the twoday Chick-Fil-A Invitational in Fresno with another strong set of events Saturday, as the Golden Bears claimed five of seven races and won the fiveteam event.
With Saturday’s results, Cal totaled victories in 16 of 20 events over the two days of competition. The Bears won the meet with 1318.5 points, over secondplace San Diego State with 677 points. Nevada (654.5), Fresno State (518) and San Jose State (460) rounded out the results.
Junior Kathleen Baker, the reigning NCAA champion in both backstroke events, won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:16.58, edging out teammates Sarah Darcel (2:18.33) and Ali Harrison (2:20.90), to complement her victory in the 100 breast Friday.
Junior Katie McLaughlin, who typically swims longer events such as the 200 free or 200 butterfly, took first in the 100 free in 50.88. Butterfly specialist Noemie Thomas, though, swam to her strength and won the 200 fly in 2:01.80, about a second over Darcel (2:02.89).
Cal also claimed both relays. The 400 medley relay squad of Baker, Harrison, McLaughlin and Valerie Hull, just out-touched teammates Keaton Blovad, Maija Roses, Thomas and Robin Neumann, 3:47.04 to 3:47.48. In the concluding 400 free relay, Baker, Neumann, McLaughlin and Abbey Weitzeil earned a victory in 3:22.51.
In other racing, Chenoa Devine led the Bears in the 1650 free, taking second in 17:14.54, while Neumann was the top Cal swimmer in the 200 back, finishing second in 2:02.05.
“Personally, it was an enjoyable couple of days to be back where I first coached,” said coach Terri McKeever, who served as head coach at Fresno State from 1987 until she moved to Cal in 1992 and will be inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame next month.
Women’s volleyball
Stanford’s sweep late Friday at Oregon pushed the Cardinal into sole possession of first place in the Pac-12. Kathryn Plummer had 13 kills to lead second-ranked No. 2 Stanford (12-2, 5-0 Pac-12) past the Ducks in front of 5,872 fans in Matthew Knight Arena. The crowd was the second-largest for a women’s volleyball match since the arena opened in 2011.
Plummer, who leads the Pac-12 in kills and points per set, led all players and hit .545 (13-1-22).
• The Saint Mary’s women’s volleyball team faced its second consecutive ranked opponent in No. 19 San Diego, and the Toreros’ swept the Gaels 3-0 (2517, 25-19, 25-18) in a West Coast Conference matchup at McKeon Pavilion. Lindsey Knudsen had a strong all-around game for the Gaels with her team-leading nine kills and two service aces. She also contributed six digs and one block.
• San Jose State rallied in sets four and five for a 3-2 win over New Mexico (2518, 16-25, 21-25, 25-18, 15-13) in a Mountain West match inside Spartan Gym. The Spartans’ Nandyala Gama led all hitters with a career-best 22 kills, her third consecutive match with 20plus kills. She hit .333 with 48 attempts and six errors. She also had a team-best seven blocks in the win.