Golden West Has New Role at State Volleyball

Golden West, which has won three consecutive state women’s volleyball titles and five of the last six, is not in its familiar role of favorite when the state tournament opens Friday at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

Golden West (22-1) is ranked second in the state. But Long Beach (18-0) is the top-ranked team in the state and the tournament favorite. Golden West beat Long Beach in a one-game final to decide the state title last season.

“If we play with some intensity,” Golden West Coach Albert Gasparian said, “and we keep moving around, then we’re pretty good.”

Fullerton (17-2), which split two five-game matches with Golden West this season, is ranked third in the state and is also a title threat.

In Friday’s opening round, Golden West plays Foothill (10-3) and Fullerton takes on City College of San Francisco. Both matches are at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., Long Beach meets Kings River (18-1) and Moorpark (17-3) plays host San Joaquin Delta.

The double-elimination tournament continues Saturday and the title match is at 5 p.m Sunday.

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Women’s soccer: Cypress, which has advanced to the state tournament three times in the six-year history of the program, meets American River (18-1-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday in one semifinal at Consumnes River in Sacramento.

Cypress is 17-0-1 and has scored 100 goals this season.

Mt. San Antonio and De Anza meet in the other semifinal at 11 a.m. Saturday. The title game is at 11 a.m. Sunday.

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Volleyball honors: Mariah Marquis, a freshman outside hitter from Golden West and Michelle Halliday, a sophomore middle blocker from Fullerton, were selected as the co-most valuable women’s volleyball players from the Orange Empire Conference.

Also on the first team were Wendy Ames (Fullerton), Christina Bowman (Golden West), Elizabeth Cherry (Riverside), Nadia Hoerner (Fullerton), Lorna Lyttle (Golden West) and Whitney Uhl (Saddleback).

Making the second team were Amber Ambrose (Orange Coast), Kim Apalit (Golden West), Christy Deming (Fullerton), Kati French (Orange Coast), Christine Howard (Saddleback), Claire Lee (Fullerton), Mary Luhrs (Golden West), Amanda Reed (Riverside), Beth Rosen (Golden West) and Gina Ybarra (Saddleback).