Golden West Begins State Volleyball Play

Golden West continues its quest for its second consecutive women’s volleyball State title starting today at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.

The Rustlers, 24-0 and the state’s top-ranked team, start the State tournament against College of the Sequoias (7-9) at 8 p.m. Ventura (21-0) goes against Diablo Valley (17-0) and Kings River (14-5) against Cuesta (18-6), both at 6 p.m. Cerritos (21-1) takes on Allan Hancock (18-0) in the other 8 p.m. match.

The Rustlers, coached by Albert Gasparian, have dominated opponents all season, winning 83 of 89 games. The Rustlers were extended to five games only once, beating Orange Coast, 15-3, 15-0, 9-15, 12-15, 15-3, in mid-October.

Freshman Tracy Schriber leads Golden West in kills with 251. Sophomore Brenda Irby, the most valuable player of the Orange Empire Conference, is second with 243. Both were also all-state selections.

Sophomore setter Margaret Weese averages 10 assists.