VALLEY COLLEGE NOTEBOOK : Ker Says CSUN’s Record Could Be a Perfect ‘10’

With a 7-3 record in its first season of Division I competition, the Cal State Northridge women’s volleyball team still hasn’t exceeded Coach Walt Ker’s expectations.

“I really hope I say this without sounding cocky or egotistical, but I believe we could be 10-0,” Ker said. “In two of the losses (Texas Tech and California) we didn’t play particularly well and in the other (17th-ranked Oregon) we came within two points of winning.”

Still, Ker isn’t looking past his team’s most recent win over 2-4 Oklahoma.

“Our overall record is the primary basis for selection to the NCAA tournament and every win is a tremendous boost in terms of self-confidence and the knowledge that we can play Division I.” Ker said. CSUN’s homestand continues tonight at 7 against UC Santa Barbara, which is ranked seventh by Volleyball Monthly magazine.

California dreamin’: Russell White gained 78 yards on 16 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run, to help Cal defeat Wisconsin, 28-12, last Saturday. White, a 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore from Crespi led the Cal rushing attack but is still battling Anthony Wallace for the starting position.

Cal linebacker David Wilson, of Reseda High, made 11 tackles against the Badgers.

Passing fancy: Coach Jim Milhon was joking about Azusa Pacific’s reputation as a run-oriented team after the Cougars shredded the Cal Lutheran defense for 314 passing yards:

“People say that in my house we don’t say ‘Pass the butter,’ we say ‘Run the butter.’ ” Milhon said.

Actually, Azusa’s offense, running and passing, simply went through an exhausted Cal Lutheran defense like a hot knife through butter.

Report card: Northridge soccer Coach Marwan Ass’ad said he will send a written report to the referee’s association regarding the officiating in his team’s 1-0 double overtime loss on Saturday against 15th-ranked Portland.

“Three or four of the calls were out of this world,” Ass’ad said. “The referee was weak and gutless.”

Hey Marwan, why not tell us what you really think?

As a matter of fact . . . : Coley Kyman knows basketball, too.

Already a proven college volleyball standout, Kyman took over the controls of the Cal State Northridge football team on Saturday and threw a touchdown pass to help the Matadors defeat Eastern New Mexico, 24-13.

So the question was asked: What about basketball? Well, as it turns out, Kyman plays basketball pretty well, too. He was a two-year varsity player at Reseda High.

“He was a very good rebounder, but not much for the outside shot,” recalled Jeff Halpern, Reseda’s coach. “We used him as an inbound’s passer. His football arm carried us through on that sometimes.”

Injury update: Paul Peters, a wide receiver and Northridge’s punt return specialist, suffered a broken clavicle in last Saturday’s game against Eastern New Mexico and will miss the rest of the season. Coach Bob Burt said Peters should be granted a redshirt year by the NCAA since he played less than two games this season.

Burt also said CSUN’s top quarterbacks, Sherdrick Bonner and Marty Fisher, are both expected to be ready for the Matadors’ next game, Sept. 22 at Central (Okla.) State.

Knock-out punch: One of Cal Lutheran’s best defensive efforts was turned in by freshman John Wilson, a physical and fiery defensive back. However, game-long tension between Wilson and wide receiver Derrick Williams of Azusa Pacific erupted into a third-quarter fight.

Both players were ejected, and on the next play Williams’ replacement Corey Smith beat Wilson’s replacement Robert Caulfield for an eight-yard touchdown pass.

Times staff writers Mike Hiserman, Theresa Munoz and Brendan Healey contributed to this notebook.