Northridge Adding Women’s Water Polo

Cal State Northridge, continuing efforts to comply with gender-equity guidelines, will add women’s water polo for the fall of 2001.

Northridge added women’s soccer in 1995 and women’s golf in 1996 as part of compliance with a 1993 consent decree between the California State University system and the California chapter of the National Organization for Women.

Water polo will raise the number of Northridge sports to 21, including 11 women’s programs.

VOLLEYBALL

* In need of middle blockers, Northridge’s men signed Oyvind Boxaspen, a 6-foot-6 native of Kristiansund, Norway; 6-5 Alex Duckworth of Phoenix, Ariz.; and 6-6 Stan Douglas of North Torrance High.

Boxaspen, who served a year in the Norwegian Army after graduating high school, will be a 21-year-old freshman.

Boxaspen’s path is reminiscent of Eckhard Walter, a sophomore at Northridge and a native of Germany who played as a 21-year-old freshman two years ago.

“He’s kind of in the same situation,” said Coach Jeff Campbell of Northridge. “He’s going to be one of the top recruits coming in.”

The Matadors also signed Marin Jerolimov, a 6-4 setter who was a teammate of Duckworth at Mountain Pointe High in Phoenix.

The four recruits join early signees Jared Corpening, a 6-9 middle blocker at Quartz Hill High, and Nils Nielson, a 6-4 outside hitter at Fallbrook High.

SOCCER

* Ceasar Martinez, an under-17 U.S. national team pool player from Gardena High, heads a list of 12 players who have signed letters of intent with Northridge.

The list includes Edwin Miranda of Reseda, a three-time All-City forward.

Midfielders Tony Ortega of Birmingham, Junior Palacios of Grant, Ben Taub of Agoura and forward Andres Orepela of Burbank also signed with Northridge.

FOOTBALL

* Jon Palacios, a quarterback from Chaminade High, has committed to Occidental.

BASKETBALL

* Ariana Bates, a Paraclete High graduate, resigned as a University of Redlands assistant to become girls’ coach at Villa Park High.

* Camarillo’s boys’ team has won the Southern Section Academic Award for a team grade-point average of 3.460 and will be honored May 10 at Edison Field.