Cal Lutheran Ranked No. 1 in West Region

The Cal Lutheran men’s basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Division III Western region rankings. The Kingsmen, 12-3 and 4-0 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference heading into Wednesday’s game, replaced Pomona-Pitzer, which dropped off the six-team list after losing two SCIAC games last week.

Colorado College (12-5) of Colorado Springs is ranked No. 2.

The playing status of Cal State Northridge wide receivers Saadite Green and Victor Prince remains in question despite a recently adopted NCAA rule that would have granted them another year of eligibility.

Northridge Coach Bob Burt said he is awaiting records from Cal State Fullerton to verify that the pair were granted medical redshirt status while at Fullerton. Both players transferred from Fullerton to Northridge last fall.

Burt has established that linebackers Angel Chavez, Patrick Johnson and K.C. Tiegs, defensive lineman Ron Walters, offensive lineman Eric Thomas and defensive back Cedric Hackett all have one season of eligibility remaining.

CSUN graduate assistant Cornell Ward will not return to the Northridge football team, according to Burt. Ward is leaving to pursue a full-time coaching position.

Northridge volleyball standout Nancy Nicholls has taken a brief leave of absence from the women’s basketball team to continue trying out for the U.S. national volleyball team. Nicholls did not make the World Student University Games team at tryouts last week in Colorado Springs but was asked by team officials to attend additional tryouts this week in San Diego.

Former CS Northridge standout Keira Middleton is one of seven players added to the roster of the Ventura Slammers, a team in the new professional Women’s Western Volleyball League. Middleton, who played for the Matadors in 1989-90, will be a member of the Slammers’ reserve squad.

WWVL play is scheduled to begin next month.

Also signed by the Slammers were Stephanie Cox (UC Santa Barbara), Sharon Kasser (Pacific), Deia Kidd (Utah State), Laura Martin (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), Kengy Gardner (Rhode Island) and Charlotte Martin.

Jim Russell, 41, of Ojai has been named commissioner of the WWVL. Russell is the athletic coordinator at the Thacher School in Ojai and a referee for the U.S. Volleyball Assn.

A celebrity golf tournament to benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters has been rescheduled for Monday at Ojai Inn and Country Club. Host Ken McMullen, a former Dodger and Angel, has lined up several sports celebrities, including Dick Butkus, Olympic decathlete Dave Johnson and former major league umpire Doug Harvey.

Information: 805-642-6383.