Cal Poly Gets Help From O.C. Players

The football team at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is receiving benefits from its Orange County connection.

Junior defensive back Brett Baker, formerly of Newport Harbor High, has 20 solo tackles and has been in on nine others. He has returned an interception 37 yards and has five punt returns for 33 yards. He also recovered a fumble and broken up a pass.

Teammate Ryan Switzer, a freshman from El Toro High, did not start at weakside linebacker in last week’s 35-14 victory over Montana State, but had five solo tackles and three assists.

Starting tight end Tim Thurman, a 6-foot-6 junior from Corona del Mar High and Golden West College, has caught two passes for 16 yards. Freshman running back Brandon Shephard (Sunny Hills High) is the No. 3 running back.

VOLLEYBALL

Melissa Plass (Fountain Valley High), a three-year starter for Pepperdine, is one of only three Waves to play in all 39 games this season. She leads Pepperdine in assist average (11.33), attack percentage (.393) and is second in digs (92). She also has four service aces and has been in on 15 blocks.

Pepperdine (9-0) is ranked No. 7 in this week’s national coaches poll.

Sophomore middle blocker Danielle Bauer, formerly from Foothill High and Plass’ 1998 teammate at the Orange County Volleyball Club, is having a fine sophomore year at ninth-ranked UC Santa Barbara. The 5-11 middle blocker has been named to two all-tournament teams and was the Big West player of the week on Sept. 4 after an upset of then 10th-ranked Arizona. She averages 3.97 kills, 2.45 digs.

Gaucho Coach Kathy Gregory said she told Bauer before the season began that Gregory was going to center Santa Barbara’s entire game plan around Bauer.

“She’s a different type [of player],” Gregory said. “She’s 5-11 and has big hands. She jumps. She hangs. She plays much bigger than she is.”

Former Marina High setter Ashlee Phillips, who played volleyball with Bauer at OCVBC in 1999, had a career-high 61 assists when Wake Forest (9-1) beat Maryland Sept. 19. She also had eight kills, five blocks.

Middle hitter Worthy Lien, who played volleyball at Sonora High, hit .250 with 11 kills in 24 attempts last week to help Cal Poly SLO to a five-game upset of No. 13 Long Beach State.

USC

Men’s water polo goalie Darin Smith, formerly of Marina High and Golden West College, stopped four shots in top-ranked USC’s 7-6 victory over No. 4 UC Irvine last week. He has 35 saves in six games.

Trojan distance runner Brooke Thomas of Laguna Hills is competing in her first season of cross-country for the Trojans after skipping competition in 1999 because of illness. She finished second at the Cal State Fullerton Invitational, 19th at the Irvine Invitational and 15th at the Aztec Invitational.