CARSON -- The Cal State Dominguez Hills volleyball, men's and women's soccer teams will put their overall records aside this weekend as they look to get a good start to the California Collegiate Athletic Association season, which begins Friday. In addition, the men's golf team will get their 2016-17 season underway Monday and Tuesday hosting the John Johnson (Dr. J.) Shootout in Industry.
Both soccer teams kick off conference play at home with Stanislaus State visiting Friday followed by Cal State East Bay Sunday. Volleyball, meanwhile will head south to open the league season at UC San Diego Friday followed by Cal State San Marcos Saturday.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Men's Soccer
Home vs. Stanislaus State
Toro Stadium | Friday, September 16 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Home vs. Cal State East Bay
Toro Stadium | Sunday, September 18 | 2 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Volleyball
Away at UC San Diego
La Jolla (RIMAC Arena) | September 16 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Away at Cal State San Marcos
San Marcos (The Sports Center) | September 17 | 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Women's Soccer
Home vs. Stanislaus State
Toro Stadium | Friday, September 16 | 4:30 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Home vs. Cal State East Bay
Toro Stadium | Sunday, September 18 | 11 a.m.
Live Stats | Live Video
Men's Golf
Hosting the John Johnson (Dr. J.) Shootout
Industry (Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms Resort)
Monday-Tuesday, September 19-20 | 7:10 a.m. (Monday); 7:30 a.m. (Tuesday)
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Joey Chica – Men's Soccer
Joey Chica played a key role to getting the Toros their first win of the season against Northwest Nazarene Thursday. Trailing for a majority of the match, Chica erased the 1-0 deficit with a successful penalty kick in the 78th minute and put the Toros ahead by scoring the eventual match winner in the 84th minute.
Two days later, Chica locked up the Toros second victory by scoring the insurance goal at 89:24 in their 2-0 win over Hawai`i at Hilo.
Antonette Rolda – Volleyball
Antonette Rolda, who appeared in all 14 sets last week in the D2 West Region Showcase, takes home the DH Athlete of the Week Award after averaging 10.21 sets. In addition to 143 sets, Rolda also reached for 31 digs for second most on the team.
Rolda was credited a career-high 33 assists and 11 digs in the Toros win over Hawai`i at Hilo.
A native of Mission Viejo, Rolda is averaging 8.42 assists and two digs per set.
QUICK NOTES
Men's Soccer
Defending the Conference Title - For the first time in 10 seasons, the Toros will begin the CCAA regular-season as the reigning champion.
Toros Shown Great Respect - Despite losing 10 players to graduation, including reigning CCAA Defensive Player of the Year Tony Alfaro, the conference's men's soccer coaches still think highly of defending regular-season champions and 13th-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills as they predict the Toros to finish second closely behind last year's national runner-up and No. 4 Cal Poly Pomona. The preseason poll results were actually very close between the top two finishers. The Broncos collected 137 points and eight first-place votes while the Toros garnered 134 points with five first-place votes.
Warriors Spoiled Undefeated Season - Stanislaus State prevented Cal State Dominguez Hills from going undefeated during its run to the championship, with the Warriors downing the Toros 2-0 in Turlock in the regular-season finale.
The Last Time They Met - Cal State Dominguez Hills and Stanislaus State met more than once last season. In fact, it was back-to-back. Following the regular-season win, the Warriors got by the first round of the CCAA Championship to set up a meeting with the Toros in the semifinal at Cal Poly Pomona. Although both teams settled a 1-1 double overtime draw, the Warriors snuck their way into the championship match winning in penalty kicks 3-1. The Toros did all the scoring in regulation, handing an own goal to the Warriors and graduate Pedro Velasquez tied the match in the second half.
About the Warriors - Stanislaus State is still searching for its first win of the season, having gone 0-1-3 in non-conference play. Most recently, the Warriors have had to settle draws with the PacWest's Academy of Art (2-2) and Holy Names (1-1). Sean Baird, who has only made one start in four appearances, has scored two of the Warriors five goals. The Warriors also made a goalkeeper change before the match with Holy Names Friday, going from Emerson Lovato to Tomas Zaifert. Since the switch, the Warriors still conceded three goals but Zaifert has made five saves.
Women's Soccer
Moving On - CSUDH will be looking on from being handed its first loss of the season to Simon Fraser in overtime.
A Comfortable Homestand - The Toros have begun a season-most six-match homestand with Simon Fraser last Saturday. It is the most consecutive home contests since 2014, when they played seven.
Offense Went Silent - After outscoring three opponents 7-0 as well as averaging 15 shots in its first three matches, CSUDH was held to just six shots against Simon Fraser.
About Stanislaus State - The Warriors are definitely ahead of schedule to matching their 12-win season from last year, going 5-0 to start 2016. Most recently, Stanislaus State is coming off a pair of home wins against Western and Southern Oregon Universities, outscoring both of them 6-0. Haley Cook has been impressive in goal for the Warriors, making 14 saves and allowing two goals in all five matches.
The Last Time vs. Stanislaus State - The Warriors scored three goals and held the Toros scoreless to claim the match in the regular-season finale. The Toros came close to getting on the board first four minutes in, when Katrina Cohen fired a shot from the top of the box that was brilliantly blocked by Lewandowski. Jordan Moineau, Amanda Woodhouse and Kirsten Coleman each scored for the Warriors.
Ending a Losing Skid - The Toros will be seeking their first win against Stanislaus State since 2012, when they upset then-No. 13 Warriors 3-1 in Turlock.
Volleyball
Looking to Get a Good Start - In a way, the Toros will get a new start this weekend when they open CCAA play in La Jolla. CSUDH hasn't won its conference opener since 2012 against the Tritons.
Freshmen Stepping Up - Freshman Antonette Rolda and redshirt freshman Tati Yandall have shown to be the face of the offense in the young season. Yandall owns a team-leading .148 attack percentage along with 12 service aces while Rolda averages 8.42 assists per set. Rolda also has seven aces.
About UC San Diego - The Tritons open conference play having gone 3-5 in non-conference play. They were also one of the hosts for the D2 West Region Showcase last weekend but went 1-3 in the classic. The only win was against BYU-Hawai`i while the losses
The Last Time vs. UC San Diego - The Toros and Tritons each claimed a win on their own floor to split the season series last year. UCSD cruised to a 3-0 win at RIMAC Arena while the Toros escaped with a five-set win at the Torodome on the final weekend of the regular season.
