Women’s Teams Vie for State Berths

Four Orange County women’s community college teams--two volleyball and two soccer--play tonight for a chance to advance to state tournaments.

Cypress and Orange Coast meet in soccer at 7 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton. The game marks the sixth time the teams have played in the last two years.

Cypress, which won the Orange Empire Conference title, beat OCC, 3-1, this season. The teams also played to a 1-1 tie.

Orange Coast beat Cypress twice in the regular season last year but lost to the Chargers on penalty kicks in last year’s Southern California final.

The game is being played on the soccer field next to Titan Stadium. Cypress Coach Ray Haas said the game was moved from Cypress because the field has bleachers for about 400 people and it provides a chance to “showcase women’s community college soccer.”

Cypress’s field has no bleachers and spectators either have to bring chairs or stand on the running track, dodging joggers at times.

The top two teams from Southern California meet the top two from Northern California Dec. 7-8 at the state tournament at Consumnes River College in Sacramento.

In volleyball, three-time defending state champion Golden West will host Santa Barbara (15-3) in one of four regional finals at 7 tonight. Golden West (21-1) is led by all-state outside hitter Mariah Marquis and All-Southern California pick Tina Bowman, also an outside hitter.

Fullerton, which tied for the Orange Empire Conference title with Golden West, also plays in a regional final. The Hornets (16-2) will host Palomar (16-2) at 7 p.m.

Fullerton is led by middle blocker Michelle Halliday, who was also an all-state pick.

The four regional final winners advance to the state tournament Dec. 6-8 at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton.