TOP SPORTING EVENTS: APRIL 30-MAY 10
Santa Barbara’s Ben Koski and Jeff Minc made it through the qualifying rounds of the AVP Nivea Tour volleyball tournament at West Beach on Thursday, and their reward is an opening-round match in the main draw against Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser, the top-seeded Olympic champions.
The main draw consists of 32 teams each in the men’s and women’s divisions. They will start the double-elimination process at 9 a.m. Friday, April 30, culminating in the finals on Sunday.
Koski and Minc, former teammates at Santa Barbara High and UCSB, were the lowest seeded team to qualify. They played together in 38 AVP tournaments from 2002 to 2007, but because of their inactivity since then, they were seeded 55th among the 64 teams trying to claim eight openings in the main draw.
After sweeping their first match Thursday, Koski/Minc had to come from behind in their next two encounters. They knocked off 23rd-seeded Paul Araiza/Andy Northness (19-21, 21-14, 15-10) and seventh-seeded Sean Allstot/Lucas Black (16-21, 21-19, 15-12).
Another qualifier from Santa Barbara is 38-year-old David Fischer, who is playing with San Diego’s Vincent Robbins – his 24th partner on the tour. Seeded second in qualifying, Fischer-Robbins moved into the main draw with a 20-22, 21-15, 15-11 victory over Radoslav Dvorsky and Justin Phipps.
In other action this weekend, college baseball fields will be busy with UCSB hosting UC Riverside in a three-game series; SBCC closing out its regular season against Cuesta at Pershing Park on Friday; and Westmont finishing with a double-header against visiting Azusa Pacific on Saturday.
In semipro basketball, the Santa Barbara Breakers play their home opener at the SBCC Sports Pavilion on Saturday night against the Marina Del Rey Advantage. Tip-off is at 7:15 p.m. The Breakers will play six consecutive Saturday night home games.
Friday, April 30
Beach volleyball – AVP Nivea Tour Santa Barbara Open at West Beach: Men’s and women’s main draw, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
College baseball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 2 p.m.; Cuesta at SBCC, Pershing Park, 2:30 p.m.
High school swimming – Santa Barbara at San Marcos, 3 p.m.
High school baseball – Oak Park at Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m.; St. Bonaventure at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
High school softball – Ventura at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.; Buena at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.; San Marcos at Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m.
High school boys volleyball – Santa Ynez at San Marcos, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 1
Beach volleyball – AVP Nivea Tour Santa Barbara Open at West Beach: Men’s and women’s main draw, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
College baseball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 1 p.m.; Azusa Pacific at Westmont (2), 12 p.m.
College softball – Long Beach State at UCSB (2), 12 p.m.
Basketball – Marina Del Rey Advantage at Santa Barbara Breakers, SBCC Sports Pavilion, 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, May 2
Beach volleyball – AVP Nivea Tour Santa Barbara Open at West Beach: Main draw, 9:30 a.m. College women’s final, 1 p.m. Men’s final, 2:30 p.m. Women’s final, 4:30 p.m.
Youth track and field – County meet, SBCC La Playa Stadium, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
College softball – Long Beach State at UCSB, 12 p.m.
College baseball – UC Riverside at UCSB, 1 p.m.
Monday, May 3
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.
Tuesday, May 4
High school baseball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:15 p.m.
High school softball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.
Running / swimming – Reef & Run Summer Series (1k swim, 1-mile swim, 2-mile run, 4-mile run), Cabrillo Bath House, 6:25 p.m. Continues every Tuesday through September 7. Sign-up information.
High school boys volleyball – Harvard-Westlake at Santa Barbara, 6:30 p.m.; Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 5
High school softball – Channel Islands at Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.; Hueneme at Dos Pueblos, 3:30 p.m.
Running / swimming – Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series (1k swim, 5k run), Leadbetter Beach, 6 p.m. Continues every Wednesday through September 1. Sign-up information.
Thursday, May 6
High school track and field – Tri-Valley League Finals at Carpinteria, 3 p.m.
High school baseball – Calvary Chapel at Bishop Diego, 5 p.m.
High school boys volleyball – Ventura at San Marcos, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 7
College baseball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 2 p.m.
High school swimming – Channel League Finals at Santa Barbara, 2:30 p.m.
High school track and field – Channel League Finals at SBCC La Playa Stadium, 3 p.m.
High school baseball – San Marcos at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 p.m.
High school softball – Dos Pueblos at San Marcos, 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 8
Running – Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon, Santa Ynez to Solvang, 7 a.m. (Registration full. Information).
High school softball – Bishop Diego at Santa Barbara (2), 11 a.m.
College softball – Pacific at UCSB (2), 12 p.m.
College baseball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 1 p.m.
Roller derby – Mission City Brawlin’ Betties vs. West Coast Derby Knockouts, Earl Warren Showgrounds, 5 p.m.
Basketball – Los Angeles Buzz at Santa Barbara Breakers, SBCC Sports Pavilion, 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, May 9
College softball – Pacific at UCSB, 12 p.m.
College baseball – Cal State Northridge at UCSB, 1 p.m.
Monday, May 10
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon, Harry’s Plaza Café, 12 p.m.