Moorpark Enters State With Streak

There’s good news and bad news for the Moorpark College women’s volleyball team.

The Raiders (21-1) are on a 21-match winning streak entering the state championships Friday through Sunday at Delta College in Stockton, their second appearance in the Final Eight and first since 1996.

Their first opponent in the double-elimination tournament is Santa Rosa (19-4) on Friday at 6 p.m. The Bear Cubs had to go five games in each of their two Northern California regional matches to advance.

If the Raiders win, their likely opponent in the next round will be Golden West (23-0), the seven-time defending state champion that is riding an 88-match winning streak.

Golden West defeated Moorpark in three games in a nonconference match on Sept. 14.

Ventura (18-3) has a tough opening match against host Delta (23-3) on Friday at 8 p.m. The Mustangs are the top-seeded team from Northern California.

Moorpark and Ventura finished first and second in the Western State Conference Northern Division.

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Despite losing two games during the weekend at its own tournament to drop to 5-3, men’s basketball Coach Ron McClurkin of Oxnard is not about to panic.

“We are getting tested,” McClurkin said, “but I don’t mind losing a couple of games right now as long as we are ready in January.”

That’s when the Condors start defense of the WSC Northern Division title they shared with Moorpark last season.

The Condors are led by 6-foot-8 sophomore center Chris Massie, an All-WSC pick who left the game Sunday against Southwest midway through the second half because of aching knees. Oxnard lost, 97-94.

McClurkin said Massie’s weight, 265 pounds compared to 250 last season, might be contributing to the knee problems.

Oxnard figures to contend for the championship in one of the most competitive divisions in the state, with Cuesta, Hancock, Moorpark and Ventura all capable of claiming first place.

“It’s going to be wide open,” McClurkin said.

The Condors play at Valley (6-2) in a WSC interdivisional game tonight at 7.

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Everyone planning to attend the WSC Bowl game Saturday between Hancock (8-2) and host Canyons (9-1) take note: Game time is 1 p.m.

Coach Chuck Lyon of Canyons still doesn’t see the point of his team being matched with a conference opponent it already defeated, but he’s getting the Cougars ready to play after a week off.

“The state of California has real problems with how they match up teams in bowl games,” Lyon said. “But that’s what it is. . . . Let’s play ‘em.”

Canyons defeated Hancock, 21-14, on Sept. 30. The teams finished tied for first place in the WSC Northern Division.