Saddleback Stuns Golden West in Volleyball

Saddleback upset top-ranked Golden West, 17-15, 9-15, 15-4, 8-15, 15-12, in Orange Empire Conference women’s volleyball Wednesday night, handing the visiting Rustlers only their second conference loss in 11 years.

Golden West’s only other loss since joining the conference was to Fullerton last season.

Saddleback (13-3, 8-1), ranked fourth in the state, had lost three previous matches to No. 1 Golden West (16-1, 8-1) this season--one in conference and two in a midseason tournament. The victory Wednesday ties the teams for the conference lead.

In the final game, Saddleback led, 14-7, in rally scoring, before the Rustlers came back to pull within two, 14-12, but the Gauchos held on for the victory.

Whitney Uhl led Saddleback with 29 kills and Gina Stivers added 15. Teammate Richelle Danet had 67 assists.

For Golden West, Annie Sand had 18 kills.

In other Orange Empire Conference volleyball:

Orange Coast 3, Santa Ana 0--Jennifer Marsh had 18 kills and Yesenia O’Campo contributed nine for third-place Orange Coast (11-5, 6-3), which won, 15-4, 15-4, 15-1.

In Western State Conference wrestling:

Bakersfield 26, Cypress 15--Bakersfield (9-4, 2-1), the fourth-ranked team in the state, won seven of 10 matches at Cypress. Gerardo Rodriguez (167) and Adam Gilbert (heavyweight) won decisions for the Chargers (5-4, 2-1).