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9-30-08 - Women's Volleyball - Oxnard 3 vs. West LA 0 (25-11, 25-13, 25-22)

Oxnard, CA -- The women's volleyball team of Oxnard College beat West LA last night. After the match, the Oxnard players were asked if they knew the last time their team had won a league match.

Two fingers were held up by most players. With not enough players to field a team last year, it was at least a year, and the year before had been winless. They looked around - could it be three? Someone ventured that it was.

Victoria Seui and Becca Helling looked at each other for confirmation. They were the only returning Oxnard players from two years ago. "Four" they both said. The league statistician is looking it up.

It definitely was the first win in a really long time. And it was fitting that both Seui and Helling got to take part in the 25-11, 25-13, 25-22 WSC contest. Seui saw limited action in matches last week but took the opportunity of an open middle blocker slot and ran with it, consistently putting balls around and through a double block. It's impressive that Helling even has time for a collegiate sport - she's enrolled in both Oxnard College and UCSB and is managing 20 academic units.

After cruising to leads in the first and second games, it looked like the Oxnard Condors might glide through the evening. But a middle blocker went down with a rolled ankle in the second game. While Assistant Coach (and conveniently, Oxnard's Head Athletic Trainer) Jill Muhe tended to the injury, Shay La Mortensen came off the bench for the first time this season and kept the team on task. "That's what she does every practice, so it makes sense she'd do that in the game" first-year Head Coach David Fischer said.

Game three started off with a hands call on Oxnard and seven straight points for West LA. After a time-out, the teams battled and stayed close until the end. With West LA leading 22-20, Oxnard sided out with one of outside hitter Dominique Franz's many powerful hits. She then stepped back to serve out the match, 25-22. Streak over.

The Condors face tough competition ahead when they host Cuyamaca on Thursday and travel to Glendale on Friday. But they won't have to worry about extending a winless streak of at least two, and possibly as many as four years. For a program that's now 1-2 in league, coach Fischer says "we're not satisfied with just the one win. But it sure feels like we might be doing something right."

9-26-08 Women's Volleyball Oxnard 0 at Santa Monica 3 (25-10, 25-19, 25-18)

Santa Monica, Ca. -- The women's volleyball team of Oxnard College visited Santa Monica College for its second league match of 2008. SMC prevailed in three sets, 25-10, 25-19, 25-18.

After a tough first game in which Oxnard struggled to pass well, games 2 and 3 were closely fought with OC battling to within a couple points in each mid-game.

Coach David Fischer pointed to the defense of Ranesha Thompson and the smart setting decisions of Ashley Lajoie as positive indicators for the future.

In a full coming week with three matches, Oxnard first hosts West LA College this Tuesday at 6pm.

9-23-08 -Women's Volleyball - Citrus 3 at Oxnard 0 (25-8, 25-19, 25-19)

Oxnard, CA -- Oxnard College played its first women's volleyball match in two years last night. Hosting Citrus College from Glendora, California, the Oxnard Condors fell in three straight games to 25 with scores of 8, 19, and 19.

After the first game, it looked like it might be a long night for ‘OC.' With Oxnard hitting -.452 and allowing seven service aces, the Fighting Owls of Citrus were looking fierce.

But the Oxnard Condors stared back in game two, flying ahead with a 9-3 lead. Outside hitters Dominique Franz and Shanna Wright began finding holes in the block that didn't appear to exist in game one. Citrus' Britney Rich turned the game back her way, serving from down 9-5 to up 13-9 on the way to winning game two.

Oxnard again jumped out in game three to a 6-1 lead. Though Citrus managed to come back at 8-8, the game stayed close with ties virtually all the way to 18-all. Owl Aisha Tyler stepped back to serve up 20-18, and took four of the next crucial points, two on service aces.

Though Oxnard begins its season 0-1, first year Head Coach David Fischer isn't discouraged. "We played through some jitters and kept our heads in the match. We'll get steadier throughout the season. We have some fantastic players who are just figuring out they're fantastic players." Oxnard travels to play Santa Monica City College at 6pm on Friday.

4-8-08 Oxnard College Announces Women's Volleyball Coach

Oxnard, Ca. - Oxnard College is pleased to announce that David Fischer will assume head coaching responsibilities for the 2008 Women's Volleyball season at Oxnard College.

Fischer's prior coaching experience includes assisting positions at his alma maters: Stanford University and Santa Barbara High School. For the past seven years, he has held positions as Director of the Los Angeles Athletic Club and served as head coach for the boys and girls teams at The Brentwood School.

"We are very excited to have David Fisher join our coaching staff" says Tim Harrison, Director of Athletics at Oxnard. "His past experiences will be a great asset to the program and I am excited to watch our program with Coach Fisher leading the way."

As a player, Fischer was the Channel League MVP and a member of the #2-ranked Stanford Cardinal squad. He is still active on the AVP Tour as a beach volleyball professional and is sponsored this summer by Jose Cuervo. For the past five years he has competed and blogged about his travels on VolleyTrolley.com. He has competed in a majority of the United States and in New Zealand, Europe, Japan, South and Central America.

Great facilities and location almost on the beach give it a natural advantage in the sport of volleyball. I look forward to helping prepare our student athletes for smooth transfers to 4-year degree schools and a chance to continue their volleyball careers."

At the Assistant helm will be Jill Changaris. "She will undoubtedly be the most over-qualified Assistant in the league" quips Fischer. In addition to two years of experience as the Oxnard top assistant, Changaris is a conference MVP at UC Davis and has seven years playing experience on the AVP. She is also the Head Athletic Trainer for Oxnard College.

Fischer and Changaris will coach a Monday and Wednesday evening volleyball class throughout the summer. Players interested in either the class or trying out for the team can find contact info at www.oxnardcollege.edu.