Coast Conference enjoys dominant fall postseason

SACRAMENTO - The 2021 fall season has been an impressive one for members of the Coast Conference. Coast Conference teams have dominated the state and regional playoffs, capturing three state championships, four state championship runner-up finishes, and four Northern California championships.

Coast Conference commissioner Dale Murray says the success of the conference is unprecedented especially with policies and protocols teams have to go through just to have a sports season this fall.

“Just competing in the current landscape is an accomplishment in itself,” said Murray. “But to do it at such a high level is a testament to the great leadership and outstanding coaching at our member colleges.”

West Valley College leads the way for the conference. The Vikings won the 2021 women’s water polo state championship and finished state runner-up in men’s water polo and women’s volleyball. Both the men’s and women’s water polo teams captured Northern California championships.

Joining West Valley in the women’s water polo regional playoffs were Foothill College and Ohlone College while Ohlone also qualified in the men’s Northern California Regionals.

In women’s volleyball, De Anza College, Hartnell College, Ohlone, Monterey Peninsula College, Cabrillo College, and College of San Mateo all qualified for the regionals.

Hartnell matched West Valley's accomplishment but in soccer. The Hartnell women captured a state championship while the men were state champion runner up.

The Panthers’ women’s cross country team finished second at the state championships, the men's squad was third. Both teams took first place at the Northern California Championships. De Anza’s women turned in a fifth-place showing at the state championships.

Seven of the 18-team field of the women’s soccer Northern California Regional Playoffs came from the Coast Conference. Along with Hartnell, Evergreen Valley College, Cañada College, West Valley, Las Positas College, Cabrillo, and City College of San Francisco all earned spots in the postseason.

In the men’s soccer regionals, Evergreen Valley, De Anza, and Foothill joined Hartnell in the playoffs.

Competing as a member of the football-only Bay 6 League, Coast Conference member CCSF completed a perfect 13-0 season on its way to a state championship. The Rams and San Mateo were ranked among the state’s top-3 this season and met in the Northern California Championship game.

And Coast Conference basketball teams are off to great starts. On the men’s side, CCSF is currently ranked No. 2 in the state with an 8-1 record, with West Valley (No. 8, 10-2), and Las Positas (No. 10, 11-1) also enjoying early-season success.


(Chris Ruiz, Coast Conference)