Drossin Reverses Her Course With Win in San Diego

Deena Drossin finally got revenge against an old adversary, one she was not able to conquer while in high school.

In four tries while she was at Agoura High, Drossin did not run well on the 5,000-meter course at Balboa Park in San Diego.

So now that she is a freshman at Arkansas, perhaps her fortunes have changed. Last Saturday, Drossin won the women’s invitational race at San Diego State’s Aztec Invitational, covering the Balboa course in 17 minutes 17.6 seconds, three seconds ahead of her closest pursuer.

“(The course) was the main thing I was thinking about on the plane ride to California,” Drossin said. “I wanted to prove to myself that I can run that course.”

SMITH SUSPENDED

Former Valley College defensive back Daryle Smith was suspended from the Oregon football team indefinitely on Monday by Coach Rich Brooks for violating an unspecified team rule. Smith, a senior, will miss Oregon’s game against USC on Saturday, ending a string of 15 consecutive starts.

In three games this season, Smith has intercepted two passes, broken up three others and made 13 tackles.

POLL PEOPLE

Many college coaches say they consider national or regional rankings meaningless. Of course, that changes at the end of the season.

But at Cal State Northridge, soccer Coach Marwan Ass’ad admits he pays close attention from the start.

As a Division I independent, Northridge needs to make sure that postseason selection committees do not overlook its teams. And the best way to get noticed is to be ranked or beat a ranked team.

“Sometimes a boxer may go his whole career without getting a shot at the title,” said Ass’ad, whose team is scheduled to play four teams ranked in the top 20. “All we want is the chance to go to the playoffs. And we have it.”

Among the strong teams Northridge (4-2) will play this year is top-ranked Santa Clara, on the road next month.

RAW RECRUITS

The Northridge women’s volleyball team could take a big step toward gaining a regional ranking this week. The Matadors will play Seton Hall tonight and USC on Friday at CSUN.

With the departure of seniors Kathleen and Marianne Dixon, Northridge coach Walt Ker knew that a key to the season would be finding replacements for the two, especially on offense.

As it turned out, the school he needed to visit was La Habra High.

Freshmen Missy Clements and Ana Kristich have settled nicely into the Matador lineup. Clements, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter, is leading CSUN (6-4) with a 3.5-kills-per-game average (119 total). Kristich, a 6-1 middle blocker, has a 2.4 kill average and 31 block assists.

Last year, the pair led La Habra to a 26-0 record and its second consecutive state title.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLUES

Don Strametz, Northridge’s track and field coach, has mixed feelings about the start of each school year.

He looks forward to the cross-country season, but he frets about the results of grade checks and Scholastic Aptitude Tests that can leave prized recruits ineligible under the NCAA’s Proposition 48 requirements.

This year, his worries were justified.

Anthony Bartley and Tamika Bradfield failed to meet Proposition 48 requirements and cannot compete for Northridge in the spring.

Bartley, who placed third in the triple jump for Lynwood High in the state championships in June, has enrolled at Long Beach City College.

Bradfield, the runner-up in the 100 and 200 meters for Dominguez High in the state meet, will remain at Northridge but will lose her freshman season of eligibility.

CHANGE AT THE HELM

Marty Washington, Antelope Valley’s starting quarterback, is expected to miss the Marauders’ Foothill Conference opener Saturday at Victor Valley. Washington sustained a bruised right shoulder Saturday in a 27-20 victory over Valley.

Freshmen Ryan Callahan (Mojave High) and Tony Abrams (Antelope Valley High) will take over for Washington.

Ron Twersky and staff writers Mike Glaze, Theresa Munoz and John Ortega contributed to this notebook.