the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades. Unfortunately
the foe on the other side of the net was the No. 1 ranked team in the
South.
The result was expected as the 16th-seeded Panthers fell to
top-seeded Los Angeles Pierce 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-10) in first
round playoff action Tuesday night in Woodland Hills.
It was the 25th straight win for the Brahmas (30-1) with 21 of those
coming in sweeps. It was also the 61st straight win at home, dating
back to October of the 2002 season.
``I thought we played tough early on but they just wore us out,''
Chaffey coach Larry Chowen said. ``We gave it our best shot. No one
expected us to win. It was more the mental mistakes. We make those
more than we make physical ones.''
The task at hand was tough enough. But it was made tougher when
starting sophomore outside hitter Nikita Johnson became ineligible
earlier in the day. That forced Chowen to alter his starting lineup,
moving sophomore Tara Sawyer from middle to outside and inserting
Oqueisha Wilson in Sawyer's vacated spot.
``That's a pretty tough adjustment to make on the fly,'' Chowen said.
``I am asking girls to come and do something they haven't done all
season. I think we did alright considering that.''
Chaffey (16-10) was in striking distance in the opener early, only
trailing by one at 8-7. But the Brahmas went on a 10-3 run and went
up 18-10 on a block by Janet Alvarado and Kameron Ward on Colleen
Chauncey. They secured the game soon after when the Panthers netted a
return of serve.
The Panthers were most competitive in the second game. The set was
even at 14 but the Panthers edged ahead on a hitting error by the
Brahmas' Vanessa Murray. The visitors made it 16-14 moments later on
a kill by Breanna Mayes.
That lead was short-lived however. Pierce came back with a Chaffey
service error cutting its lead to one. Murray followed with winners
on three straight points, the third of which gave the Brahmas an
18-16 advantage. Pierce tallied nine of the next 10 points and took a
2-0 lead on spike by Natasha Wilroy.
``The second game gave us a lot of confidence,'' freshman libero
Christine Luna said. ``They learn the same things we do. They dress
the same way we do. I don't think we were intimated. We just made
mistakes. This is a new experience for us. Next time we'll know what
it takes.''
Chaffey, the Foothill Conference champion, was never in the third
game. The Brahmas surged out to a 16-3 lead and never looked back.
Coach Nabil Mardini substituted the rest of the way with Brittany
Sousa collecting five kills in the last half of the game.
The Brahmas, who have won the last eight Western States Conference
titles, were led by Murray with 12 kills. Alvarado added nine and
Lisa Sonnenblink six.
The Panthers were led by Mayes with six kills and two total blocks.
Sawyer chipped in with four kills and three blocks. Luna anchored the
defense with 11 kills.
``It was good to get this far,'' Luna said. ``We should come back
stronger next year.''
The San Bernardino Valley College men's cross country team is the state champion -- again.
The Wolverines captured their third straight community college state title Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno. The Wolverines had three runners in the top 10 and five in the top 25.
SBVC had a total of 50 points, 27 more than runner-up San Diego Mesa. Rounding out the top five were Orange Coast (147), Rio Hondo (172) and Mt. SAC (210).
"It feels great," coach Wes Ashford said. "Every year is a new year so it's different. I'm just happy for the kids because they worked hard to get here."
Sophomore Carlos Perez led the effort, finishing third over the four-mile course in 20:19.05. He also placed third individually last year. It is his fourth straight state title, dating back to his CIF championship teams his last two years at Barstow High School.
Sophomore Matt Sartori, another holdover from last year's team, was fifth (20:23.85). Also scoring for the Wolverines were Jared Bain (10th in 20:36.58), Art Parra (18th 20:56.06) and Manuel Bueno (21st in 20:5926).
The non-scoring runners were Ankur Joshi (25th in 21:02.01) and Ronell El-Amin (35th in 21:09.72).
"We felt good warming up but you never know what the other teams are going to do so I told them just to focus on ourselves and running our own race," Ashford said.
The Wolverines, who won the Foothill Conference and Southern California Regionals earlier this season, both by wide margins, celebrated by racing go-karts and playing laser tag at a nearby gaming facility before heading home.
"I promised them if they won they could mess around and have a little fun," Ashford said.
Freshman A.J. Pulice of Victor Valley qualified as an individual. He placed 69th (21:34.87) out of 199 runners.
Orange Coast won the women's title with 84 points, just edging out second-place Glendale (86).
Victor Valley qualified two girls, as Melissa Hernandez was 64th (19:64.06) and Monique Hoover was 71st (20:07.64) out of 191 athletes.
Chaffey College volleyball coach Larry Chowen didn't expect any favors when it came to the playoff draw. And he didn't get any.
The Panthers, who captured their first Foothill Conference title in nearly 20 years, will travel to Los Angeles Pierce for a 7 p.m. first round playoff game Tuesday.
Chaffey (14-6) drew the No. 16 seed in the Southern California region which earned it a date with the No. 1 seeded Brahmas (29-1). The Panthers can thank their lack of history and the weakness of the Foothill Conference.
"It's pretty much what I expected," Chowen said. "The winner of our conference usually gets a one or two seed and has to go on the road. We just have to go do the best we can and see what happens."
The Panthers are led by sophomore middle blocker Tara Sawyer (178 kills, 99 blocks), the conference most valuable player. Its three other veterans are middle blocker Colleen Chancey (65 blocks) and setters Lauren Hall 249 assists) and Serina Diaz (423 assists).
The other sophomore, Nikita Johnson (160 kills), is a transfer from College of the Desert.
Rounding out the core group of players are libero Christine Luna (227 digs) and outside hitter Breeana Mayes (196 kills) - all freshmen.
"I don't think we have reached our potential yet. This would be a good time to do it," Chowen added. "I have seen us play really well and I have seen us play not so well. We'll see which team shows up. We have nothing to lose and they have everything to lose."
Pierce has a streak of 60 straight wins at home that dates back to October of 2002. They have won eight straight Western States Conference titles.
The Brahmas are led by sophomore setter Terry Soltani (905 assists, 46 aces), sophomore libero Ashley Clark (336 digs) and freshman outside hitter Sarah Martin (266 kills, 38 aces).
The winner next plays the survivor of the match between No. 8 Orange Coast (18-4) and No. 9 Pasadena (16-6).
The San Bernardino Valley College women's soccer team isn't going to have long to celebrate its first-ever Foothill Conference title.
The Wolverines (15-6-3) are busily preparing for their first-round playoff game against Cerritos (17-0-4), which isn't just the top seed but the top-ranked team in the country.
Coach Kristin Hauge was informed of the playoff draw on Tuesday and is excited about the first-round matchup at 2 p.m. Saturday at Cerritos.
The teams played a nonconference game three weeks ago and the Falcons emerged with a 3-2 win. SBVC felt good about that game because it has been the only team this season to score on Cerritos more than once.
"We felt good about the way we played and we're looking forward to getting another chance," Hauge said. "Yes it is going to be tough, but we like the challenge."
The Wolverines will be making their second tournament appearance in school history. The first came last year when they advanced as conference runner-up but defeated Victor Valley 1-0 in a first-round game. They were eliminated in the second round by Cuyamaca 3-1 in overtime.
The Wolverines are led by freshman forward Sylvia Fuentes, the conference's most valuable player. She has scored 12 goals and nine assists and is second on the team in points to Sarahi Bransford (17 goals, 11 assists).
SBVC also has a solid goalkeeping duo in sophomore Jackie Jaime and freshman Maria Magana.
``We have nothing to lose, so we're up for the challenge," Hauge said.San Bernardino Valley College men's basketball team had a successful debut under new coach Quincy Brewer, going 3-0 at a tournament hosted by Los Angeles City College.
The Wolverines defeated Los Angeles Pierce 91-81, host Los Angeles City 94-86 and conference rival College of the Desert 104-88 in the championship game.
Sophomore guard Warren Fuselier earned Most Valuable Player honors, tossing in 20 points with five assists in the championship game. Also making the all-tournament team were freshman guard Alex Jacobs and freshman forward Maurice McGee.
Brewer isn't overexcited though.
"I'm never to up or too down. I'm always in the middle," he said. "We got big leads, like 18, 20 points. But then we didn't put teams away. We have to learn to do that."
The Wolverines will make their only home appearance until January Saturday when they host L.A. City at 3 p.m.
Most soccer coaches don't have the luxury of more than one good keeper. So San Bernardino Valley College women's coach Kristin Hauge considers herself blessed. She has four. It's one of the reasons the Wolverines (15-5-3) were able to clinch the first Foothill Conference title in school history and notch a school-record number of wins.
The SBVC quartet is led by sophomore Jackie Jaime (Kaiser HS) and also includes freshmen Natalie Guevara (Rialto), Maria Magana (Arroyo Valley) and Vanessa Vasquez (Moreno Valley Canyon Springs).
Hauge said she watches all four warm up before a game before making the decision on who will start.
"It's a bummer because it's hard to get them all playing time," she said. "They good thing is that they all work well together and they push each other every day in practice."
Magana got most of the playing time early and has a 1.35 goals against average in 1,197 minutes. Jaime, the starter last year, has seen more playing time of late because of her experience working with backfield defenders Serina Stephens, Tiffany Jones and Brianna Jones. Jaime has an 0.57 average in 636 minutes.
The Wolverines have totaled 11 shutouts with just one game left in the regular season, a 3 p.m. game at Chaffey on Wednesday.
Dave Hoover remembers a talk he had with a coach from a four-year school who had stopped by to watch his Victor Valley College football team practice several years ago. Hoover mentioned he was leaving early because his son had a baseball game.
"He just looked at me and said he couldn't remember the last time he saw his son play," the Rams coach said.
That comment hit home with Hoover, now in his ninth year directing the Rams.
Hoover has coached at the Division I level so he knows the grind and the lack of job security.
So he'll take the minor inconveniences in exchange for a more normal life away from the field.
That life away from the field includes sons Michael (18) and Zachary (20), fiancee Melissa Spillman and her two young sons, ages 7 and 10.
"If you're at that level and you're winning, you're moving on to something better. If you're losing, you're getting fired because you're not winning," he said. "There is no stability, no normalcy."
Hoover is noted for his fiery demeanor on the football field. But ask about his family and that hard-core exterior softens, especially when it comes to Michael, the one who shares his love for football.
Michael is in his senior year at Apple Valley High School. He has played multiple positions and is one of the team captains.
Despite a frenetic schedule that includes coaching and a full load of classes, Hoover hasn't missed an Apple Valley game, no matter where it is.
He makes the most of it.
"That's when I do a lot of my scouting," he said. "It gives me a chance to see a lot of players."
Despite his expertise, Hoover doesn't get in the way of the Sun Devil coaches who direct his son because he respects how head coach Frank Pulice runs his program.
"He has never said one word about anything we did," said Pulice, who also attends most Victor Valley games. "The only time he said anything was when I went to him and asked him about something. He has never been anything but supportive."
Michael excels at linebacker but has also seen time at fullback and even the offensive line where he was undersized at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. It wasn't the best move for him personally but it was what the team needed at the time.
Pulice said the two have the same intensity but it manifests itself in different ways.
"They're actually polar opposites. Dave is very intense, very demonstrative. His intensity is more external. Mike has the same intensity but it's more internal. He doesn't have to say anything. It shows more in what he does."
Both Hoover-led teams have fallen on hard times. The Rams are coming off a 39-14 win over Compton but they're just 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the newly formed American Division Mountain Conference. They finish the season with a winnable 1 p.m. game Saturday at 2-7 Mt. San Jacinto.
The Sun Devils are 4-5 heading into Friday's regular season finale against 9-0 Hesperia.
Next year things should be a lot easier for the family because Dave expects his son to play for him at Victor Valley. What will likely make it easier for both is that Michael plays on the defensive side of the ball so he'll deal more directly with defensive coordinator Dale Bunn.
It will be the first time Hoover has coached his son in football, although he has coached him in youth baseball.
"He's always been hard on me so I know what to expect," Michael said. "He always pushed me harder than the other kids. I'm used to it."
Having a coach for a father also comes in handy.
"There's always an aspect of the game that he can explain that I don't understand," Michael said. "He knows me best so I always have someone to go to for answers."
San Bernardino Valley College sophomore quarterback Mike Stadler did not play in Saturday's 28-10 American Division Mountain Conference loss to Compton.
He has played through a sore shoulder much of the season and head coach Pat Meech said the problem was likely worsened by a hit he took against San Diego Mesa two weeks ago. He will have an MRI Monday.
Freshman Danny Laugen, a graduate of Colony High School, got the start and fared admirably, completing 13 of 23 passes for 149 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked four times.
He has seen some playing time because of Stadler's nagging injury but got the majority of the reps in practice last week.
"He showed great improvement," Meech said. "He hung on to the ball too long a couple of times but nothing major. That comes with experience."
Next week the Wolverines (0-6, 0-3) play at Mt. San Jacinto (0-6, 0-3) which has struggled as well.
"It's going to be a test of character," he said. "We're both struggling and hungry for a win. It will be a matter of who keeps it together and is able to perservere."
[
Victor Valley (2-4, 1-2) suffered a 40-30 loss Saturday at Los Angeles Harbor that makes next week's 1 p.m. home game against first-place Southwestern (4-2, 3-0) crucial.
Quarterback will be an issue as freshman O'Ryan Bradley, who ranks sixth in the state in passing, left the game with a hip flexor.
Coach Dave Hoover said Bradley got injured in the first quarter but played through it until it became unbearable and exited with 3:26 left in the third and the Rams trailing 33-10.
Freshman Elisah Filipili finished up, completing 12 of 18 throws for 142 yards and three touchdowns.
Bradley's status for next week is up in the air. But Hoover has faith in Filipili, who gray-shirted at Pasadena City College last year.
"There is no quarterback controversy. Bradley is our guy," Hoover said. "At the same time we trust Eli just as much. He has been a trooper. Of course he wants to play but he has taken his role of backup seriously. He has worked hard and been here every day. Eli is a very charasmatic guy, the kind the kids will rally around."
Jimmy Paulson, a fixture in the athletic department at San Bernardino Valley College for nearly 50 years, died last week at the age of 69. Paulson graduated from Pacific High School in 1956 and SBVC in 1959.
While at SBVC he was a student manager for the baseball and wrestling teams. After a brief stint in private business, Paulson was offered the position of athletic equipment manager by Sylvester Heinberg, the chair of the physical education division and coordinator of athletics. He served in that position from 1962 until retiring in 1997, when he was inducted into the SBVC Hall of Fame.
During 35 years as athletic equipment manager, Paulson worked with 45 head coaches, six athletic trainers, five athletic directors, five physical education division chairs and more than 10,000 athletes, 134 of whom played professionally and 12 who qualified for the Olympics.
A moment of silence was held before Saturday's football game against Compton. Trainer Mike Sola is looking into a more permanent tribute to the mainstay.
