Sports Highlights: Jan. 3-11

Gaucho Forward Alan Williams Puts Up Big Numbers

UCSB’s 50th annual ASICS Invitational men’s volleyball tournament gets underway at 10 am Friday (Jan. 3) at the Thunderdome. The host Gauchos will face Pacific in their first best-of-three match. The rest of their opponents in Pool A will be Cal Baptist, Harvard and Stanford. Pool B includes Long Beach State, UCLA, Cal State Northridge, UC San Diego and IPFW.

Based on their rankings in their pools, the teams will square off in five best-of-five matches on Saturday at Robertson Gym. The pool winners will play for the championship at 8 pm. Last year’s champion, UC Irvine, went on to win the NCAA title.

The Gaucho men’s basketball team plays at the Thunderdome at 4 pm Saturday against The Master’s College. Junior forward Al Williams leads the Big West and is ranked in the nation’s top 10 in both scoring (23.5 points per game) and rebounding (10.6). UCSB (8-4) opens conference play at home against Cal Poly the following Saturday (Jan. 11).

League action will commence at high school gyms, soccer pitches and water polo pools next week. The schedule of home games follows.

The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table resumes its weekly sports luncheons on Monday. The public is invited.

COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, 1/3: Men’s volleyball – UCSB ASICS Invitational pool play, Thunderdome, 10 am.

Saturday, 1/4: Men’s volleyball – UCSB ASICS Invitational, Rob Gym, 10 am (9th-place match), 12:30 pm (7th), 3 pm (5th), 5:30 pm (3rd), 8 pm (championship). Men’s basketball – The Master’s College at UCSB, 4 pm.

Wednesday, 1/8: Men’s volleyball – UC Santa Cruz at UCSB, 5 pm.

Friday, 1/10: Women’s basketball – Bethesda at Westmont, 5:30 pm. Men’s volleyball – Concordia at UCSB, 7 pm.

Saturday, 1/11: Men’s rugby – UCLA at UCSB, 3 pm. Men’s basketball – Cal Poly at UCSB, 4 pm; Canyons at SBCC, 7 pm. Women’s Basketball – UCSB at Cal Poly, 4pm; Canyons at SBCC, 5 pm.

HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

Friday, 1/3: Girls soccer – Harvard-Westlake at Santa Barbara. Girls water polo – Bishops at San Marcos.

Saturday, 1/4: Girls basketball – Santa Barbara at Carpinteria, 5 pm. Boys soccer – Santa Barbara Alumni Game, 2 pm.

Tuesday, 1/7: Boys soccer – Orcutt Academy at Laguna Blanca, 3 pm; Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 5 pm. Girls soccer – Dos Pueblos at Santa Barbara, 5 pm; Buena at San Marcos, 5 pm. Girls water polo – Santa Barbara at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm.

Wednesday, 1/8: Boys basketball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 7 pm; Camarillo at Santa Barbara, 7 pm.

Thursday, 1/9: Boys soccer – Trinity Classical Academy at Laguna Blanca, 3 pm; Buena at Dos Pueblos, 5 pm. Girls soccer – Ventura at Santa Barbara, 5 pm. Girls water polo – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:15 pm; Ventura at Santa Barbara, 3:15 pm. Wrestling – San Marcos at Santa Barbara, 7 pm.

Friday, 1/10: Boys soccer – Santa Ynez at San Marcos, 3:15 pm. Boys basketball – Buena at Santa Barbara, 7 pm; Ventura at San Marcos, 7 pm.

Saturday, 1/11: Boys basketball – Laguna Blanca at Cate, 3:30 pm. Girls basketball – Orcutt Academy at Cate, 5 pm.