SPORTSCOPE : Dominguez Starts Cage Season Against Hayward and Sonoma

Cal State Dominguez Hills basketball Coach Dave Yanai begins his 13th season today with a road trip to Northern California. The Toros will play at Cal State Hayward at 7:30 tonight and at Sonoma State at 7:45 p.m. Saturday before returning to Carson to play their home opener Tuesday against La Verne. Tuesday’s game starts at 8:05 as part of a doubleheader with the women’s team.

Yanai owns 186 victories, two California Collegiate Athletic Assn. titles and three appearances in the NCAA Division II regionals. The Toros are coming off a 20-10 season and a third-place finish in the regionals and return all-conference guard Robert Barksdale as well as lettermen Michael Bell and Segaro Bozart, also guards. Junior Mike Rudberg returns at forward after sitting out last season.

The Toros will be relatively small, with only two players taller than 6-foot-5, but Yanai will be unveiling one of his best recruiting classes, including guard Raymond Bennett and forward Vincent Washington, both from Carson High, forward Norman Francis out of Fairfax High and 6-7 center Joseph Janney, a native of Accra, Ghana, by way of L.A. Trade Tech.

The Loyola Marymount University women’s volleyball team, trying to pull out of a six-match tailspin, will close its home schedule Saturday night with a 7:30 West Coast Conference match against Pepperdine. The Lions, 8-17 overall and 7-6 in the WCC, complete the season Tuesday at UC Santa Barbara. Loyola has lost four straight conference matches to fall from second place to a tie for fourth. Pepperdine, 19-7 overall and 13-0 in the WCC, has clinched the title.

The 1989 World Cup of Natural Bodybuilding will be contested Sunday at Aviation Auditorium, Manhattan Beach and Aviation boulevards, Redondo Beach. Prejudging begins at noon, with finals at 6 p.m. The meet is open to competitors who have been tested steroid-free for at least one year. There will be contests in seven men’s and women’s age groups. Former Mr. America and Mr. Universe Dennis Tenerino is master of ceremonies. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $20 for reserved.

Centinela Hospital’s Fitness Institute will hold a lecture on “Exercise Guide to Better Golf” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday. The program will feature Robert Mottram, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer, who will discuss strength, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness and injury prevention. He will also speak about Centinela’s Biomechanics Laboratory and how it has helped golfers’ swing. The program is free but seating may be limited. For reservations, call 649-6700. The institute is located at 6666 Green Valley Circle in Culver City.

Miraleste High’s water polo team will face La Serna of Whittier at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals of the CIF-Southern Section 2-A Division playoffs at Whittier College. The third-seeded Marauders (22-5) advanced with a 16-7 win over Cabrillo of Lompoc on Tuesday. Second-seeded La Serna (12-2) beat Dos Pueblos of Goleta, 13-10.