header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


After defeating visiting No. 14 Golden West College in the first round of the California Community College Athletic Association Southern California Regional Playoffs, No. 3 College of the Canyons is one win away from writing a new chapter in its program history.

Canyons has reached the state tournament twice (2007 and 2015), but a victory over No. 11 El Camino College on Saturday would afford the Cougars an opportunity to build on that legacy of success.

COC second-year head coach Clay Timmons recognizes that this year’s team has achieved its goals with contributions and leadership coming from a variety of sources.

“With this team, leadership has come from different people depending on what match it is,” said Timmons. “We get leadership in many ways.”

Sophomore setter Rachel Perez is a quiet leader who shows the way by example. She has dished out 1,087 assists for the season, and her 10.98 assists per set is good for second in the state of California. She has led a balanced and diverse offense that is currently ranked ninth in the state in hitting efficiency at .287. Only five players across the state have surpassed the century mark in kills for the season.

However, there is no doubt that sophomore Emily Burns is the go-to hitter at all times. She has recorded an astounding 478 kills on the year which leads the state, and her 4.69 kills per set ranks fourth.

“Burns will get loud and she will cheer [her teammates] on, and she definitely lights up the crowd with her swings,” Timmons said. “I also see a lot (of leadership) coming from Demi.”

It’s rare to see a team’s libero take on a leadership role as her primary responsibilities revolve around passing and defense, but sophomore Demi Dawson has been up to the challenge this year. She has racked up a team-high 372 digs on the season to go along with 71 aces. At 0.75 aces per set, she ranks amongst the top-10 in the state.

Yet another player that has shown important leadership qualities is freshman Caroline Page who has made a seamless transition from defensive player to outside hitter this year. She has tallied 228 kills to go along with 262 digs this season. Timmons acknowledges the leadership she has brought to the court.

“She was an experienced, high-level, high school and club player and we’ve seen some leadership from her here, even as a freshman.”

In a sport that leans so heavily on teamwork and communication, it seems the Cougars have found a balance that works for them.

“It comes from different places,” Timmons repeated. “Everybody firmly knows their role on the team, that is what has allowed us kind of roll through the end of the season and into the playoffs.

The Cougars also have some extra incentive for reaching the state championship tournament, coming in the form of Timmons’ trademark beard.

The beard has long been a source of laughter (and heartache) for his players. There is no mistaking the COC head coach as his facial hair reaches down to his chest. However, the players will get to see Timmons shave off that beard if they reach the state championship, an incentive that the head coach added to the mix early in the year.

“I started growing the beard at the beginning of last season, so most of these players have only known me with a beard, and most of them despise it,” Timmons joked. “Although small, the motivation has always been there to see what Clay looks like without one.”

Now just one win stands in the way.

The Cougars will face a familiar opponent in an El Camino (20-4, 7-1) team that finished as co-champions of the South Coast Conference, South Division, sharing that title with Long Beach City College (18-4, 6-1). The championship was the program’s eighth straight.

The two programs most recently met in the opening round of the annual El Camino Tri-Tourney on Sept. 15. In that match the Warriors emerged with a 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13) victory over the Cougars.

Additionally, Canyons and ECC have met in five of the last six seasons, with the Warriors posting a 4-1 record along the way.

The Warriors upset No. 6 Bakersfield College (19-6, 7-1) with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-21) sweep in their opening round playoff match. ECC has won nine straight, and 14 of its last 16, matches to set up Saturday’s playoff duel. El Camino head coach Liz Hazell and the Warriors posted an 8-2 road record on the season.

No. 3 Canyons and No. 11 El Camino will take the court at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, in the Cougar Cage. General admission tickets are $12 and $8 for students, staff, children under 12 and seniors over 60 (cash only).

The 2017 CCCAA Women’s Volleyball State Championship will be held Dec. 1-3 at Solano Community College in Fairfield, Calif. The eight-team tourney will include four qualifiers from both the Northern California and Southern California regions.

Stay up to date on all this season’s action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

— Brandon Johnson/COC Sports Information

— Photo credit: Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The Master's University men's volleyball team took to the road and came away with a 3-set victory, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22, over the Hope International Royals in Fullerton.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Battling back from a 12-point deficit, The Master's University basketball team had the lead late but could not hold it, losing to the No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman 68-69 in the Round of 16 at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
GOLETA — College of the Canyons fielded two teams at the annual 3C2A State Preview event at Sandpiper Golf Course on Monday, with the Cougars finishing sixth and eighth in the field of 18 teams from around the state. 
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Cason Brownell had a bases-loaded double in the first and added a home run in the sixth to knock in all four runs The Master's needed in a 4-3 win over Westcliff Tuesday in Irvine.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
SCVNews.com