SportsScope : Azusa Pacific Eleven Drives for Second Straight Win Against Rival La Verne

The Azusa Pacific University football team, impressive in winning its opener against Occidental two weeks ago, will try to stay undefeated against longtime rival La Verne at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Azusa.

It will be the 24th meeting between the teams and La Verne has a 12-11 advantage in the series. But Azusa Pacific has won the last three games, including a 20-15 victory last season.

The Cougars are fresh from a 17-13 win over Occidental while La Verne was defeated by Whittier, 28-7, last week.

Azusa Pacific has benefited by the addition of quarterback Brian Hunt, a transfer from BYU who completed 10 of 17 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns against Occidental. Two other leaders are running backs Jay Johnson and Brent Hamm, who caught six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against Occidental.

On defense, the Cougars are led by linemen Gary Willison (6-4, 255) and Don Arter (6-2, 260) and linebacker Jeff Gustin (6-1, 210). Willison, a senior who transferred from USC, had 12 tackles (six unassisted) and recovered a fumble against Occidental. Gustin added 11 tackles.

La Verne has a good passer in quarterback Mark Brown, but the Leopards committed eight turnovers in their loss to Whittier, including two interceptions and a fumble on their first three possessions.

Former National Basketball Assn. standout Jim McDaniels has been named assistant men’s basketball coach at Azusa Pacific University.

The 40-year-old McDaniels, a 7-footer, played center for the Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle Supersonics and Buffalo Braves. He also played in the American Basketball Assn. for the Carolina Cougars and the Kentucky Colonels.

McDaniels has been coaching for only one season but it was not without success. He was an assistant last year at Pacific Christian College, which posted its best-ever record of 30-7.

“We’re glad to have Jim come into our program,” first-year Azusa Pacific Coach Terry Layton said. “You can’t ask for anyone with a better resume to work with our post players.”

The Cal Poly Pomona women’s volleyball team is off to a fast start with a 7-3 record and No. 12 ranking in NCAA Division II.

But the Broncos expect one of their toughest match-ups of the early season when they host undefeated Biola in a non-conference contest at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Kellogg Gym.

Biola, which has an 11-0 record after winning the Cal State San Bernardino Tournament last week, has been led by senior middle blocker Heather Jones, senior outside hitter Liane Lewis and freshman setter Julie Dahlberg.

Pomona finished second in the University of La Verne Tournament last week despite the absence of three starters because of injuries. Outside hitter Paula Tezak, who starred for the Pomona basketball team the last four years, and middle blocker Stacy Bekemeyer may play against Biola, but outside hitter Sandy Ballinger is out for the season with a knee injury.

“We’re going to have to be ready for Biola,” Pomona Coach Paul Gabriel said. “This is a team that beat us in five games last year in their gym, so we are going to have to be on our toes.”

After scoring back-to-back shutouts to win the Cal State Dominguez Hills Tournament last week, the Cal Poly Pomona women’s soccer team will be host to Chapman at noon Saturday at Bronco Field.

The Broncos, who defeated highly regarded Sonoma State (2-0) and UC Davis (3-0) to win the Dominguez Hills tournament, entered the week with a 3-2-1 record while Chapman is 2-1-1. Sonoma entered the tournament ranked No. 2 on the West Coast in NCAA Division II while Davis was No. 3.

Pomona has been led by sophomore goaltender Mara Bloom, who was named most valuable player of the Dominguez Hills tournament, and forwards Tricia McCarthy and Amy Johnson. McCarthy is a senior and Johnson a sophomore.

Chapman has been sparked by freshman Stassi DiMassi, who has scored at least one goal in each game for the Panthers and has eight goals and two assists for the season.

The Cal State Los Angeles men’s soccer team will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak when it travels to Seattle for two games this week.

The Golden Eagles, who have a 3-4 record, will meet NCAA Division II power Seattle Pacific on Friday and face Washington on Sunday. Among the leaders for Cal State are forwards Carlos Zavala, Philip Machikelian and Waldir Guerra.

Cal State was defeated by the University of San Francisco, 4-2, and UC San Diego, 3-0, in its last two games.