Channel Islands Coach Takes Year Off

Gary Abraham, the boys’ basketball coach at Channel Islands High for the last seven years, is taking a year off from coaching but plans to return for the next school year.

Abraham’s mother died of cancer in September, but he said he decided before then to take the season off so he could take care of some “personal things.”

Tim Murray, Channel Islands’ junior varsity coach, will direct the varsity this season.

The Westlake High boys’ team will play an alumni game at 7 p.m. Friday at Westlake.

Ventura High will play its boys’ alumni game at 7 tonight.

The Santa Clara boys’ team will host a series of scrimmages involving Mater Dei and Compton Dominguez on Friday at 11 a.m.

VOLLEYBALL

Outside hitter Laura Szymanski of Cal State Northridge is the second consecutive Matador to be named top freshman in the Big Sky Conference, and she was selected to the all-conference team.

Outside hitter Nancy Ma was an honorable mention selection, and was named conference player of the week after two victories that earned Northridge the No. 5 seeding in the conference tournament beginning Friday.

Ashley Cohen and Elizabeth Wiessner of Chatsworth were selected girls’ co-players of the year in the West Valley League.

SOCCER

Lauren Arase, a four-year starter at La Canada High, committed to USC.

Arshak Abyanli of Glendale College earned his second consecutive Western State Conference men’s player of the year award.

FOOTBALL

Notre Dame High (10-1) has moved its Southern Section Division I quarterfinal game Friday against Mater Dei (10-1) to Valley College at 7:30 p.m.

The Division XIII quarterfinal game between Flintridge Prep and Mammoth will be played Saturday at St. Francis High at 7:30.