Long Beach Still One of 3 Undefeated Teams on CCCWVCA State Top 25 #4
While San Joaquin Delta at #1 and San Diego Mesa at #2 continue to be the undefeated darlings of women's volleyball through Sept. 24, Long Beach City College has stood out as the third undefeated team left on the CCCWVCA State Top 25 Rankings #4.
The #9 Vikings are a perfect 10-0 and are tied with Rio Hondo for the current top spot in the South Coast Conference, both with 4-0 records. However, from a ranking standpoint, LBCC so far has only one "quality victory" in defeating Mt. San Antonio in five sets on Sept. 15. Other victories v. perennially strong programs in past seasons that are not higher up this year are against Santa Barbara and Canyons. Long Beach is 30-5 in sets this year.
The South Coast itself has been stronger than ever with as many as five teams all in the hunt for this year's SCC crown.
Any time that a team can be undefeated this late in the season is an accomplishment, and for now Long Beach can enjoy being in that elite winner's circle.
There were no changes in the first seven spots of this week's rankings.
- SAN JOAQUIN DELTA, Big 8, 13-0: The Mustangs needed five sets to win for the second time v. Feather River after defeating Fresno in four sets at a Delta classic played on Saturday. Delta closed out a 4-0 week after also sweeping Modesto and Cosumnes River to move to 3-0 in Big 8 play. NorCal #1; Last Week's Ranking: #1
- SAN DIEGO MESA, Pacific Coast Athletic, 13-0: The Olympians remain undefeated after PCAC sweeps over Cuyamaca and Palomar. Mesa is 3-0 in conference play. SoCal #1; Last Week's Ranking: #2
- FEATHER RIVER, Golden Valley, 14-4: The Golden Eagles went the distance in all three of their matches last week, including 5-set wins over Solano and Fresno with the deciding game both ending with 15-12 results. FRC pushed Delta to five as well, only to lose the finale 15-7. NorCal #2; Last Week's Ranking: #3
- SIERRA, Big 8, 12-2: The Wolverines have won five straight with sweeps over Diablo Valley and Folsom Lake. NorCal #3; Last Week's Ranking: #4
- VENTURA, Western State North, 10-1: The Pirates are on a 6-match win streak, needing five sets to get by Bakersfield in a WSC crossover before sweeping Canyons. SoCal #2; Last Week's Ranking: #5
- GROSSMONT, Pacific Coast Athletic, 11-1: The Griffins have won five in a row, defeating Palomar in four sets and sweeping MiraCosta. Kate Beezer was a State Player of the Week #5.; SoCal #3; Last Week's Ranking: #6
- FRESNO CITY, Central Valley, 10-4: The Rams' Central Valley Conference streak is at 163 matches with sweeps over Reedley and Columbia but Fresno's 5-match win streak was stopped by Delta in 4. Fresno had been swept by Feather River at the Delta Classic on Sept 9, but this time it went a hard five sets before falling to FRC (outscored just 104-100). NorCal #4; Last Week's Ranking: #7
- IRVINE VALLEY, Orange Empire, 8-2: The Lasers immediately did a reverse by knocking off Cypress in a resounding sweep (75-47). This allowed IVC to fly back into the top 10 with an 8-spot jump. Irvine also swept Santa Ana. SoCal #4; Last Week's Ranking: #16
- LONG BEACH CITY, South Coast, 10-0: The Vikings beat Cerritos in four and swept Los Angeles City. LBCC moves up one spot. SoCal #5; Last Week's Ranking: #10
- LASSEN, Golden Valley, 17-2: The Cougars upped their state-leading wins totals with a sweep over Yuba. They join the top 10 for the first time. NorCal #5; Last Week's Ranking: #11
- AMERICAN RIVER, Big 8, 9-4: The Beavers ran their win streak to four with a 4-set win over Santa Rosa. ARC could just as easily be on the top 10 with 5-set losses this year to Feather River and Sierra and 4-set Ls v. Fresno and Lassen (26-24 fourth set). They move up one slot. NorCal #6; Last Week's Ranking: #12
- CYPRESS, Orange Empire, 10-2: The Chargers followed their loss to Irvine Valley with a sweep over Riverside. Cypress dropped four spots. SoCal #6; Last Week's Ranking: #8
- WEST VALLEY, Coast South, 6-3: The Vikings didn't play last week, but as others beat others, their resume looks better. WVC has wins over Solano and Hartnell and and their losses are v. #7 Fresno (swept but 26-24 first set), #4 Sierra (75-66), and v. #3 FRC (won opening set 25-23). A 5-spot jump for West Valley. NorCal #7; Last Week's Ranking: #18
- SOLANO, Bay Valley, 10-5: After five straight sweeps, the Falcons lost for the third time this year in five sets to an opponent, but this was no normal foe as they nearly upset Feather River. Solano outscored Butte and Gavilin in last week's wins, 150-79. They make a 6-rank leap. NorCal #8; Last Week's Ranking: #20
- RIO HONDO, South Coast, 9-3: The Roadrunners are on fire with a 5-match win string and a 4-set win over Mt. San Antonio. Their win over Pasadena and a 5-set loss to Cypress have added to their overall pedigree and a 6-spot jump. SoCal #7. Last Week's Ranking: #21.
- CABRILLO, Coast North, 4-4: The Seahawks did not play last week and haven't been in action since Sept. 13. Now they face a big test v. San Mateo on Wednesday. A 3-spot drop. NorCal #9; Last Week's Ranking: #13
- SAN MATEO, Coast South, 3-5: The Bulldogs have been itching to get back in action and finally did after a 12-day layoff. They swept De Anza. Right or wrong, they take a 2-slot fall. NorCal #10; Last Week's Ranking: #15
- PASADENA CITY, South Coast, 10-4: The Lancers scored an important 4-set win over East Los Angeles, then were choppy in a 5-set win over Cerritos. They move up four spots. SoCal #8; Last Week's Ranking: #22
- EAST LOS ANGELES, South Coast, 15-2: A taste of the top 10 meant the Huskies became a target and PCC made them pay albeit a close 91-82 margin. Just like that a 10-spot descent despite a sweep over LA Harbor. SoCal #9. Last Week's Ranking: #9
- MT. SAN ANTONIO, South Coast, 7-7: Every year one team seems to be a barometer for the rest of its region. This year it appears to be the Mounties, who have quality wins over Grossmont, Moorpark and now Orange Coast in four sets over the weekend. Mt. SAC went a tough four in their loss to Rio Hondo despite outscoring the Roadrunners, 97-94. They dropped one spot. SoCal #10; Last Week's Ranking: #19
- ORANGE COAST, Orange Empire, 7-3: The Pirates swept Golden West, then played well in a 4-set loss to Mt. SAC (98-86). They fall four slots. SoCal #11; Last Week's Ranking: #17
- MOORPARK, Western State North, 6-5: The Raiders swept Canyons and Santa Monica to move back over the .500 mark. They inched up a spot. SoCal #12; Last Week's Ranking: #23
- SANTA MONICA, Western State South, 8-5: The Corsairs were swept by Moorpark after going five to beat Santa Barbara (15-12). SMC had a mighty drop of nine spots in the up-and-down world of women's volleyball. SoCal #13; Last Week's Ranking: #14
- GOLDEN WEST, Orange Empire, 6-2: The Rustlers swept Fullerton, then lost in three to Orange Coast (75-61). They move up one position. SoCal #14; Last Week's Ranking: #T25
- MT. SAN JACINTO, Inland Empire Athletic, 11-4: The Eagles showed cracks in their armor, needing five to beat Citrus, but now have won 10 of their last 11. Their reward is holding their spot outright after sharing it with two others teams last week. SoCal #15; Last Week's Ranking: #T25
BEST OF THE REST
Cerritos, South Coast, 5-3: Despite an 0-3 start to SCC play, the Falcons have been very good, going four in their loss to Long Beach, then nearly upsetting Pasadena in a 5-set marathon (15-11). They have a sweep over #24 Golden West in its season opener.
Canyons, Western State South, 4-7: The Cougars have a deceiving record with Ls v. #2 SD Mesa, #5 Ventura, #6 Grossmont, #8 Irvine Valley, #9 Long Beach, #12 Cypress and #22 Moorpark. Problem is their sets record v. the group (2-21). Their win over SBCC is keeping them high in BoR.
Santa Barbara City, 6-8: The Vaqueros upset Bakersfield in a sweep after nearly doing the same to Santa Monica in a 5-set defeat (15-12).
Bakersfield, Western State South, 4-5: The Renegades took #5 Ventura to five sets in a loss only to then get upset in three by unranked Santa Barbara. A sweep over Mt. SAC in the season opener is the team's best victory. Last Week's State Ranking: #24
Los Angeles Mission, Western State North, 12-7: The Eagles swept Citrus and West LA and have earlier wins over Mt. San Jacinto and Riverside
Riverside City, Orange Empire, 8-5: The Tigers beat Santiago Canyon in four, then were swept by Cypress. Their win over Orange Coast is offset by losses to LA Mission and San Bernardino Valley. Last Week's State Ranking: #T25
Cuesta, Western State North, 9-6: The Cougars extended their win streak to five with sweeps over West LA and Antelope Valley.
Hartnell, Coast North, 4-6: The Panthers snapped a 3-match losing streak with sweeps over Los Medanos and Sequoias. NorCal #11
Monterey Peninsula, Coast North, 6-3: The Lobos did not play last week. NorCal #12
Cosumnes River, Big 8, 9-3; the Hawks swept Santa Rosa before #1 Delta swept them to end a 5-match win streak. NorCal #13
Taft, Central Valley, 10-5: The Cougars beat Porterville in 4 and are 9-2 in their last 11. NorCal #14
San Bernardino Valley, Inland Empire Athletic, 7-4; The Wolverines outlasted SD Miramar in five (15-11) and swept Imperial Valley.
Saddleback, Orange Empire, 7-3: The Bobcats are at least for the moment 3-0 to lead the OEC with a 5-set W over Santa Ana and sweep over Santiago Canyon.
Santa Rosa JC, Big 8, 9-6: The Bear Cubs lost to the Rivers, swept by Cosumnes, and went four v. American. NorCal #T15
Sacramento City, 9-6: The Panthers got by Folsom Lake in five and swept Diablo Valley. NorCal #T15
Modesto JC, Big 8, 9-4: The Pirates were swept by Delta.
West Hills Coalinga, Central Valley, 6-6: The Falcons have won four straight and also briefly lead the CVC at 4-0 after a 5-set W over Sequoias and a sweep over Columbia.
Folsom Lake, Big, 5-7: The Falcons have lost five in a row with its loss to SCC and 3-set defeat v. Sierra.
Ohlone, Coast South, 8-7: The Renegades swept Skyline and Contra Costa.
Los Medanos, Bay Valley, 9-10: The Mustangs scored sweeps over Butte and Gavilan, were swept by Hartnell, then swept Sequoias. They had a State Player of the Week #5 selection in Noelle Mixon
Siskiyous, Golden Valley, 7-7: The Eagles are on a 4-match win streak with a sweep over Ohlone and 4-set wins over Contra Costa and Skyline.
Rankings/Release by Robert Lewis, CCCWVCA SID
