Sports Highlights: September 6-15
There have been three professional beach volleyball tournaments in Santa Barbara since Todd Rogers teamed up with Phil Dalhausser in 2006, and the pair has won the men’s championship every time. They will be going for their fourth title, and possibly their biggest financial reward, in the 2012 AVP Championships at West Beach.
Rogers and Dalhausser, whose victories here came in 2006, 2008 (after they won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing), and 2010, will face plenty of competition in the $225,000 event. The field of 12 men’s teams includes Jake Gibb-Sean Rosenthal, who reached the quarterfinals of the London Olympics; Sean Scott-John Hyden, winners of the last two Manhattan Beach tournaments; and Matt Fuerbringer-Nick Lucena, the third highest ranked U.S. team on the international tour.
The women’s dozen features Olympic silver medalists Jennifer Kessy-April Ross; three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh, teamed with Nicole Branagh; and former UCSB standout Brooke Niles with Tyra Turner.
The tournament will start with round-robin matches in pools of three teams on Friday morning, September 7. They will proceed to the semifinals Saturday and the final placings Sunday. First place is worth $25,000. If the champions go undefeated throughout pool play and the knock-out rounds, they will receive $47,500.
UCSB’s nationally ranked men’s soccer team will host Valparaiso on Friday night, following a game between the Gaucho women and Oregon State. On Sunday, the Gaucho men will play an exhibition against Pachuca of Mexico’s First Division in Santa Maria.
The UCSB men’s water polo team will make its home debut at noon Saturday against UC San Diego.
SCHEDULE OF GAMES
Thursday, September 6
High school girls volleyball – Royal at San Marcos, 6 p.m.; Valencia at Dos Pueblos, 6 p.m.
Friday, September 7
Beach volleyball – AVP Championships at West Beach, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
College women’s soccer – Chaffey at SBCC, 2 p.m.; Westminster (Utah) at Westmont, 3 p.m.; Oregon State at UCSB, 5:30 p.m.
High school football – Atascadero at Santa Barbara, 7:30 p.m.; San Marcos at Beverly Hills, 7 p.m.; Dos Pueblos at Cabrillo, 7 p.m.; Carpinteria at Nipomo, 7 p.m.
College men’s soccer – Chaffey at SBCC, 7 p.m.; Valparaiso at UCSB, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 8
Beach volleyball – AVP Championships at West Beach, 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
College men’s water polo – UC San Diego at UCSB, 12 p.m.
College football – SBCC at East L.A., 6 p.m.
High school football – Cerritos Valley Christian at Bishop Diego, La Playa Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 9
Beach volleyball – AVP Championships at West Beach: Women’s final, 10 a.m. Men’s final, 11:30 a.m.
Soccer – UCSB men vs. Pachuca (exhibition), Santa Maria High School, 11 a.m.
Monday, September 10
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.
Tuesday, September 11
College men’s soccer – Hancock at SBCC, 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 13
High school girls volleyball – Oxnard at Santa Barbara, 6 p.m.; Hart at San Marcos, 6 p.m.
Friday, September 14
College women’s soccer – San Francisco CC at SBCC, 2 p.m.; U. of San Francisco at UCSB, 7 p.m.
High school football – Lompoc at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.; Santa Barbara at Rio Mesa, 7 p.m.; San Marcos at Hueneme, 7 p.m.; Carpinteria at Santa Ynez, 7:30 p.m.
College football – Compton at SBCC, 7 p.m.
College men’s soccer – UCSB at San Diego, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 15
High school football – Santa Clara at Bishop Diego, La Playa Stadium, 7 p.m.
Sunday, September 16
College men’s soccer – UCSB at Seattle, 3 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Monday, September 17 – Pro Football Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood presentation: “Use Your Brain When You Play Hard.” Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort, 6 p.m. Reservations.
Thursday-Friday, September 20-21 – 29th City Men’s Senior Golf Championship. Santa Barbara Golf Club. www.santabarbaraca.gov.
RUNNING, WALKING, CYCLING
Sunday, September 30 – Carpinteria Triathlon (1.5K swim/40K bike/10K run or 0.5K swim/15K bike/5K run) Carpinteria State Beach, 7:30 a.m. carpinteriatriathlon.com.
Saturday, October 6 – Solvang Mile, Copenhagen Drive, 7 a.m. active.com.
Sunday, October 7 – Carpinteria Kiwanis Big Avocado 5K Run, Carpinteria Bluffs, 8 a.m. active.com.
Saturday, October 13 – Fall 5-Mile Cross Country Classic and Kids’ Mile, Lake Los Carneros, 8 a.m. foxfallxc.com.
Sunday, October 14 – Cancer Center 10K Run and 5K Walk/Run, Montecito Union School, 8 a.m. ccsb.org.
Saturday, October 20 – Santa Barbara Century bicycle ride, Leadbetter Beach, 7 a.m. For experienced riders: 100 miles, 100K, and 34-mile Foothill Course. santabarbaracentury.org.
Saturday, November 10 – Select Staffing Santa Barbara International Marathon, Dos Pueblos High School to SBCC, 7:15 a.m. Half Marathon, Page Youth Center to SBCC, 7:45 a.m. sbimarathon.com.
Sunday, November 25 – Red Rock Marathon and 50-Mile Trail Run, Rancho Oso Guest Ranch, 6 a.m. allwedoisrun.com.
