COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Wild Pierce Comeback Falls Short in WSC Volleyball Showdown

Pierce College nearly overcame a two-game deficit before finally falling to Ventura in the Western State Conference women’s volleyball tournament Thursday night at Moorpark College.

Ventura beat Pierce, 15-7, 15-9, 3-15, 15-17, 15-10, in a match to determine WSC berths and seedings in the upcoming state tournament. The match was necessary because Pierce, Ventura and Cuesta tied for the conference championship with 16-2 records.

Ventura (18-2), guaranteed a state tournament berth, will play Cuesta tonight at Santa Barbara City at 6 p.m. for the WSC’s top seeding in the state playoffs. Pierce (17-3) will attempt to earn a wild-card berth and could enter the state tournament as the conference’s third-seeded team.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Canyons 80, Rancho Santiago 46--Keira Irwin scored a career-high 21 points to lead four Canyons players in double figures in a first-round game of the Golden West tournament.

Moorpark 81, Saddleback 72--Moorpark outscored Saddleback by 13 points in the second half to pull out a first-round victory in the Long Beach City College tournament. Lisa Huffaker led Moorpark with 17 points.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Antelope Valley 120, Canyons 94--Tony Madison scored 28 points to lead Antelope Valley (2-0) to an easy nonconference victory at home.

Oxnard 93, Harbor 90 (2 OTs)--Greg Hernandez was five for six at the free-throw line and grabbed three offensive rebounds in overtime for Oxnard (3-0) in the opening round of the Compton tournament.

Shawn Talley scored a game-high 28 points, Don Mitchell had 22 and Tim Thomas 15 for Oxnard.

Ventura 94, Edwards AFB 86--Lester Neal had 23 points and 16 rebounds and Uba Satterfield added 22 points and 11 rebounds to pace Ventura (2-0) in the first round of the Cypress tournament.