League, conference play to unfold

High school, college teams open competition against conference, league foes in several sports this week.The pleasantries have been disposed of. The preparations have been made. It’s time for league and conference play.

That will be the chorus ringing out on Wednesday as teams from Corona del Mar High, Orange Coast College and UC Irvine commence league and conference action in basketball.

Corona del Mar opens on the road at University High, with the girls playing at 5:15 p.m. and the boys following at 7. Both the Sea Kings and Warriors were playoff teams in boys’ and girls’ basketball last season, making this a good barometer for each team on where they stand in the Pacific Coast League.

OCC has an Orange Empire Conference doubleheader at Riverside Community College, with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m.

Both games should be highly competitive. The RCC men are ranked No. 6 in Southern California and OCC is No. 8. The RCC women are ranked No. 3 in Southern California with OCC right behind them at No. 4.

Technically, UCI’s doubleheader with UC Davis is not a Big West Conference matchup. However, the Aggies, who will become full-fledged members in the 2007-08 season, are playing a conference schedule. UC Davis’ men are 3-8, but have a win over Stanford -- just like the Anteaters. The game has a rare 2 p.m. start.

* College men’s volleyball, Cal Baptist at UC Irvine, 7 p.m. Tuesday: The youthful Anteaters kick off the season with a tough test. The Lancers are the two-time defending NAIA champions and swept UCI last season in a nonconference match. Outside hitter Jayson Jablonsky leads Anteaters, who were ranked No. 8 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation preseason poll.

* High school girls’ soccer, Saddleback at Costa Mesa, 3:15 p.m. Thursday: The Mustangs got no favors for their first game back from the holiday break. Saddleback finished second to Costa Mesa in the Golden West League last season. The Mustangs can make a strong statement that their young lineup is hitting its stride with a win here.

* High school girls’ water polo, Western Tournament, Thursday-Saturday: As a freelance team, Sage Hill has to make the most of its games and this tournament is a prime place to do it. Costa Mesa joins the Lightning in the field for this tournament in Anaheim.

* High school girls’ water polo, Foothill at Corona del Mar, 3:15 p.m. Friday: The Sea Kings reached a milestone last week when they defeated Foothill for the first time in the semifinals of the Holiday Cup. Fortuitously for the Knights -- though maybe not for the Sea Kings -- they get a rematch with Corona del Mar in this nonleague contest featuring the two preseason No. 1 teams in Divisions I and II.

* High school boys’ basketball, Newport Harbor at Woodbridge, 7 p.m. Friday: Newport Harbor’s Dennis Heenan has had a pair of 31-point performances this season and the Sailors have gotten solid contributions from Robert Koon, Tony Yaghjian and Weston Dunlap. Now it’s time to do it in Sea View League play. The Tars open against Woodbridge, a fellow playoff team from last season.