Chapman Moves Right Up the Polls

The Chapman women’s volleyball team has raced to the top of the polls after beating all six of its California opponents this season.

Although the Panthers finished a disappointing 1-3 two weekends ago at the Washington (Mo.) tournament, which featured some of the top Division III teams in the nation, Chapman returned home last week and beat Pomona Pitzer, Occidental and Redlands.

The Panthers are ranked second in the Division III West Region of the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. poll. UC San Diego is ranked No. 1.

Chapman will host UC San Diego Oct. 17 but also will have another big test Saturday when it travels to Cal State San Bernardino, a Division II school.

“[Saturday] will be a good test to see where we really are,” Chapman Coach Mary Cahill said.

The top six teams in the region qualify for the Division III playoffs.

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Rankings: The Chapman women’s soccer team is ranked third in the West Region and 23rd in the country in the National Soccer Coaches Assn. of America poll. The Chapman men’s soccer team is ranked sixth in the West Region.

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Hoop fever: Although basketball season is still about a month away, Southern California College women’s basketball Coach Russ Davis is itching to get started.

Earlier this week, he signed Esperanza High senior Beth Ann Weidler, a standout in basketball, cross-country and track and field.

But Davis already has a talented recruiting class in place for this season. It will augment a team that finished 18-11 and returns four starters including all-conference selection, Elaine Whittemore.

Among the newcomers are transfers Kristi Wright, Victor Valley College’s all-time leading scorer, and Sara Herkenhoff (The Master’s and Dana Hills High), a 6-foot-4 center.