SPORTSCOPE : Loyola Women to Compete in Volleyball Invitational

The Loyola Marymount women’s volleyball team, which defeated 10th-ranked New Mexico on Saturday, will meet Florida State in the first round of the Anteater Invitational at 5 p.m. today at UC Irvine.

Florida State (2-0) was a participant in the 1990 NCAA playoffs.

Loyola (4-3) will also play two games on Saturday. The Lions meet Idaho (2-4) at 10 a.m. and UC Irvine (1-2) at 7 p.m. in the round-robin tournament.

The tournament will conclude a season-opening 10-game trip for Loyola. The Lions’ first match at Gersten Pavilion is Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against 17th-ranked San Diego State.

Loyola played perhaps its best match of the season in a 16-18, 16-14, 15-11, 12-15, 15-5 victory over New Mexico. The Lions were led by junior outside hitter Joli Eberhart with 29 kills and 20 digs and senior middle blocker Stacy Trapp with 16 kills.

Trapp is also Loyola’s career leader in blocks with 256 and all-time leader in block assists with 195.

Another standout in the victory over New Mexico was freshman setter Robin Ortgiesen, who set a school record with 84 assists. She is averaging 11 assists a game.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills women’s soccer team, ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division II, will play host to Cal State Hayward at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Toros, who have yet to allow a goal, are 2-0 after a 1-0 victory over Chico State Tuesday. They defeated San Francisco State, 4-0, in their season opener last week.

Dominguez Hills has been led by freshman forward Staci Blough, who scored three goals against San Francisco State.

Sophomore forward Amy Rubin scored the goal in the victory over Chico State. Rubin, a Hawthorne High graduate, led Dominguez Hills with 19 goals last season.

The Loyola Marymount water polo squad opens its season today with a match against UCLA in the UC Irvine Tournament.

The Lions play the Bruins at 8:10 a.m. Loyola will also play UC Irvine at 11:20 a.m. Play will continue through Saturday.

Three of Loyola’s top four players return from last year’s squad that finished 4-15. They are sophomores Cory Puentes and Charlie Wallace and senior Kevin Gardiner.

Puentes led the Lions with 36 goals, Gardiner added 18 and Wallace 13.

The tournament is also the debut of Doug Pitts as coach. Pitts is a Loyola graduate who played for the Lions from 1985-89. The Lions were ranked in the top 20 in his junior and senior seasons.

The Lions open their home season against Whittier at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Following a 1-0 overtime victory over San Francisco State in its season opener last week, the Cal State Dominguez Hills men’s soccer team will travel to Costa Mesa to meet Southern California College at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Southern California is 3-1. Dominguez Hills defeated the Vanguards, 5-0, last season.

Junior forward Gerardo Yepez scored 1:33 into overtime in Dominguez Hills’ victory over San Francisco State. The Toros also received strong play from sophomore goalkeeper Erick Miseroy.

The Torrance Parks and Recreation Department is holding registration for a flag football league for children in kindergarten through eighth grade from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 21, Sept. 28 and Oct. 5.

Registration is at the department office, 3031 Torrance Blvd. The cost is $25.

League play starts Oct. 19. Information: (213) 618-2930.

Youth in grades four through six are eligible to compete in the Hawthorne Parks and Recreation Department’s flag football program that starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at Eucalyptus Park in Hawthorne. Registration and tryouts will be at the park.

The cost is $5. Volunteer coaches are needed for the program.

Information: John Warner at (213) 970-7230.

Registration is under way for an after-school flag football program for junior high boys that starts Monday at Manhattan Beach Intermediate School. Practices will be at 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Junior high girls may also participate in a volleyball program that starts Monday at the same site.

Information: Charlotte Marshall at (213) 545-5621, ext. 321.