Title Streaks Are on the Line for Orange County Colleges

Three Orange County community college teams will try to keep state title streaks alive this weekend as state championships get underway in men’s soccer, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and wrestling.

Golden West is seeking its eighth consecutive state title in women’s volleyball, Santa Ana is gunning for a third consecutive men’s soccer title and Cypress will try for its third consecutive women’s soccer title.

The Rustlers (23-0) have won 88 consecutive women’s volleyball matches dating to 1997 and are favored to win the title. Middle blocker Grace Boyd and setter Amanda Siler lead the Rustlers, who gave up only 13 points in two Southern California Regional matches.

Golden West has won 10 of the last 11 state championships. The only time the Rustlers lost in that span was a third-place finish in 1992. Golden West faces Cabrillo at 7 tonight in the first round of the double-elimination tournament. The final is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday. All matches are at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.

In men’s soccer, Santa Ana (19-1-4) meets Fresno (17-0-6) in a semifinal at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Dons had a 70-game unbeaten streak end Nov. 6 with a 3-2 loss to Orange Coast.

The Pirates (17-3-4) will play top-ranked Santa Rosa (19-0) in the other semifinal at 4 p.m. The final is Sunday at 2 p.m.

Cypress (21-0-1) is favored to win the women’s soccer title again and will play Santa Rosa (17-3-2) at noon. Ohlone (21-1) plays Long Beach (21-2) in the other semifinal at 10 a.m. All men’s and women’s soccer games are at the Lemoore Sports Complex in Lemoore.

The state wrestling championships are at Golden West. Individual titles are on the line in 10 weight classes. Cypress’ Jack Anaya, who won the Southern California Regional at 125 pounds, is the county wrestler with the best shot at winning a title.

Andy Donaldson of Santa Ana (149 pounds) and Jesse Juarez of Golden West (174 pounds) are also contenders.

The preliminary rounds begin at 9 a.m. today with second-round action in the afternoon session beginning at 1 p.m. The semifinals begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and the finals are from 7-9:30 Saturday night. Admission is $5 per session (two sessions per day) or $15 for an all-session pass.