THOUSAND OAKS : Soap Stars Play Volleyball in Benefit Match

For Susie Wich, the fact that “The Young and the Restless” actor Peter Bergman’s celebrity volleyball team went down to three consecutive defeats at the hands of a California Lutheran University student volleyball team wasn’t important.

In fact, the volleyball itself wasn’t important at all. What was important for the 21-year-old psychology major was her ability to see her all-time favorite daytime soap opera star in the flesh.

“I watch the show every chance I get,” Wich said. “Sometimes that means catching the show between classes and sometimes even during classes. I think he is wonderful.”

Joining Bergman in playing in the benefit contest Sunday were daytime television stars from such shows as “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Santa Barbara” and “Days of Our Lives.”

The actors faced a combined student team made up of the university’s women’s volleyball players and a coeducational intramural squad. The celebrities lost all three games played before a crowd of 150 people in the campus gymnasium.

The event was held to benefit the Santa Susana Repertory Company, a Thousand Oaks-based professional theatrical organization that is preparing to open the city’s Civic Arts Plaza in September with a production of “The Man From La Mancha,” according to Lane Davies, the company’s artistic director.

Also benefiting from the volleyball match was the university’s drama department, which will soon start an apprenticeship program with the theatrical company.

Bergman, who plays the character Jack on the long-running soap, said he was glad to come out for the game in support of the theater company and Cal Lutheran drama students.

“I’ve been a longtime friend of Lane’s and, when called and asked if I could participate, I didn’t hesitate to say yes,” Bergman said before the start of the match. “Even if we lose, we’re still going to have fun out there.”

Echoing Bergman was another actor, Shemar Moore, who plays Malcolm Winters on “The Young and the Restless.”

“This is for a great cause,” Moore said. “I think it’s really important to support local theater. I’m happy to be here.”

For Michael Arndt, chairman of the drama department, the event represented what he hopes will be the start of an enduring relationship with the repertory company.

“We’re excited because this will give our students a chance to work with professional actors,” Arndt said. “This will help their growth as actors tremendously.”