SPORTSCOPE : Arizona Challenges UCLA Women in Volleyball Playoffs

The top-ranked UCLA women’s volleyball team (28-2), which defeated Pepperdine in four games in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, will play host to No. 13 Arizona (18-12) in the opening match of the NCAA West Regionals at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Pauley Pavilion.

In Friday’s second match, No. 8 Stanford (18-11) will meet No. 18 Wyoming (23-6) at 8:30. The championship match will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pauley.

Against Pepperdine, freshman middle blocker Natalie Williams had 20 kills and four blocks, and senior middle blocker Daiva Tomkus had 11 blocks and 14 kills. In the match, Tomkus, named the Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, became UCLA’s career leader in blocks with 560.

The Waves were led by freshman middle blocker Debbie Merandi, who had 22 kills, a .514 hitting percentage, four blocks and 12 digs. Pepperdine sophomore outside hitter Cari Delson had 18 kills and 15 digs.

Bruins named to the All-Pac-10 team besides Tomkus are sophomore middle blocker Elaine Youngs for a second time and freshman middle blocker Natalie Williams. The conference all-freshman team includes UCLA middle blocker Marissa Hatchett and Williams.

The UCLA women’s basketball team (3-1) will play host to Cal State Fullerton (2-1) at 7 p.m. Friday at John Wooden Center.

In last week’s Utah tournament, the Bruins opened with a 65-54 victory over Texas A & M and lost to Utah in the championship game, 65-43. Bruin guard Rehema Stephens, who had career highs of 27 points and 12 rebounds against Texas A & M, was named to the all-tournament team with UCLA forward Sandra Van Embricqs.

Pepperdine’s women’s basketball team (3-2 at the start of the week) will play host to Cal State Northridge (1-7) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Firestone Fieldhouse.

On the road last weekend, the Waves defeated Colorado State, 55-50, and were edged by Wyoming, 68-67. Earlier, Pepperdine lost at home to West Virginia, 79-72, in overtime.

Against West Virginia, senior forward Kristy Greenberg scored 20 points and sophomore forward Shannon Frowiss had 14. Against Colorado State, Frowiss had 17 points and eight rebounds, junior center Sharon Wilson 13 points and eight rebounds and senior guard Sherri Murrell 11 points and seven rebounds. In the Wyoming game, Murrell had 15 points and five steals, Greenberg 14 points and six assists and Wilson 12 points.

The Santa Monica College men’s basketball team, which improved to 8-2 overall by winning the championship of the Antelope Valley College Tournament, will begin play Wednesday in the Modesto Junior College Tournament.

In the Antelope Valley championship game, the Corsairs defeated Los Angeles Valley, 85-78. In other tournament games, SMC defeated Los Angeles Trade Tech, 92-64; College of the Canyons, 115-90, and Antelope Valley, 78-68.

Corsair freshman Dana Harris was named the tournament’s most valuable player after he averaged more than 13 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. Corsair sophomore Mark Moton, who averaged 15.5 points, was also named to the all-tournament team.

The Santa Monica College women’s basketball team (3-1 as the week began) will play host to Compton College at 7:30 p.m. Friday and to San Diego Mesa at 3 p.m. Saturday at Corsair Gymnasium.

Last week the Corsairs routed Los Angeles Trade Tech, 95-52, and lost to Howard College of Texas, 78-58. SMC sophomore forward Jackie Nikzad scored 41 points in the two games and made six three-point shots against Howard, although she missed the last nine minutes of the first half because of foul trouble. Corsair freshman guard CoCo Jones scored 30 points in the two games and had three three-pointers against Howard.

Beverly Hills High School will hold its annual invitational boys and girls basketball tournament Monday through Dec. 16.

This is the 48th year for the boys and the 17th for the girls. Boys games will be held in the swim-gymnasium and most girls games in the eastern gym.

Among boys, Rolling Hills is favored and Culver City the second choice, said Jack Dyck, Beverly Hills athletic director and boys basketball coach. North Torrance is the girls favorite, said Beverly girls Coach Len Mitchell.

Monday boys games: Royal-Ventura, 3 p.m.; Buena-Palisades, 4:30; Crespi-Culver City, 6; Saugus-Beverly Hills, 7:30.

Tuesday boys games: Westlake-Redondo Beach, 3 p.m.; St. Bernard-Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 4:30; Glendale-Rio Mesa, 6; Santa Maria-Rolling Hills, 7:30.

All first-round girls games will be on Monday and the second round begins Wednesday. Monday’s schedule: Torrance-Marymount, 3 p.m.; Estancia-Notre Dame, 4:30; Palisades-Beverly Hills, 6; North Torrance-El Segundo, 7:30.

The girls championship game is at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the swim-gym. the boys third-place game will start at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and the championship game will follow in the swim-gym.