Steve Burkhart had an interesting spin on the Moorpark College women's volleyball team's dramatic five-game loss at Santa Barbara City Tuesday night, when the Raiders saw their 11-match overall and 18-match conference winning streaks snapped.

"For 17 years, we've watched Golden West lose about this time and use the experience to refocus," said the Moorpark coach.

The theory matches the coaching adage that you learn a lot more about yourself from a loss than you do from a winning streak.

The Huntington Beach school has 17 state championships.

The Moorpark College women's volleyball team had emerged from a dramatic third game on the brink of clinching its second straight Western State Conference title.

That's when Santa Barbara City began defending its home court.

Maria Mayer, Nicole Bergmann and Emelia Shugrue had 13 kills apiece as Santa Barbara City, ranked No. 6 in the state coaches poll, came roaring back to take the fourth game and a decisive fifth game, 15-11, to win its 15 straight home match and pull within a flat-footed tie with No. 6 Moorpark Tuesday night.

"They really stepped it up and we just didn't respond," said Moorpark coach Steve Burkhart. "I thought they played better defense and out-transitioned us."

Things fell apart for the Raiders after gutting out the third game, 28-26, to take a 2-1 lead.

"We lost our composure a little bit in that fourth game and it went to the fifth game, where anything can happen," said Burkhart.

The Vaqueros (17-2, 7-1) were led by star middle blockers Bergmann and Jenn Waddill, who hit .440 and .346, respectively, in combining for 24 kills.

Una Siljegovic 19 kills and three blocks, Rachel Olinyk had 10 kills and five blocks and Mimi Sander had 26 digs for Moorpark (17-2, 7-1), which had dropped just two games in winning 11 straight matches overall, including a four-game win over the Vaqueros at Raider Pavilion on Oct. 20.

"I wasn't disapointed with our effort," said Burkhart. "I know the girls are disappointed with the loss."

The Raiders, who had won 19 straight in WSC North play since Nov. 2007, face the tough road trip to Cuesta Friday.

"We just go back to work," said Burkhart. "We've got a tough game on Friday. We're going to have to respond."

Looking to clinch the WSC North, the No. 4-ranked Moorpark College volleyball team has split the first two games at No. 6 Santa Barbara City, 25-20 and 20-25.

Moorpark took a 2-1 lead by winning a dramatic third game, 28-26.

UPDATE: But SBCC came roaring back to take the fourth game, 25-18, and a 7-3 lead in the decisive fifth game.

The host Moorpark College men's soccer team defeated first-place Santa Barbara City, 1-0, this afternoon to pull the Western State Conference race tighter.

The loss was the first by the Vaqueros (8-5-4, 8-1-3) in WSC play. Moorpark (9-6-2, 7-4-1) pulled within five points of Santa Barbara in the standings, 27 to 22.

The Oxnard College men's soccer team (10-5-4, 6-3-3) is a point back with 21 after defeating visiting Glendale, 1-0, Friday on Sam Nellis' goal set up by Johnny Martinez.

Ventura College assistant Ted Lawrence on Saturday's visit to Santa Barbara City:

"They want to play smashmouth football and run it down your throat -- Old-school power football, old school football. There's no secret of what they're going to do. They're not a finesse team. It's 'Here's our plays, can you stop us?'

"(Quarterback John) Uribe is very good, mobile and very accurate.

"We've got a challenge to stop their running game and try to contain Uribe, who's much more mobile and accurate than the quarterbacks we've played.

"They're a great team on film. They look good... They're not a team that's down."

"They're to be taken seriously and it's a huge challenge for us."

With the Santa Barbara City College football team on probation and unable to participate in the postseason, Ventura College coach Jon Mack sees a greater focus on the annual meeting of two Central Coast rivals Saturday at La Playa Stadium in Santa Barbara.

"For Santa Barbara, it's a huge game," said Mack. "They're not able to win their conference or go to the playoffs. For them, this is the Game of the Year."

Santa Barbara City was slapped with Southern California Football Association sanctions in June for "major violations, mostly involving subsidization of student athletes."

Santa Barbara City football coach Craig Moropoulos on the Vaqueros' shocking 17-14 win over College of the Canyons Saturday night. SBCC visits Ventura this weekend.

"I told the guys that the only people who believe we can win are right here in this group," said Moropoulos told the school's Website. "I said, 'As long as you believe, we can do it.' They bought into it, kept coming after them and kept playing hard.

"I think this is a turning point for us. It keeps everybody believing that when you're maybe less talented, if you believe in yourself and you keep believing in family, you can still get it done."

Through 18 of 36 holes at the WSC Championships at Santa Maria Country Club, the Ventura College men's golf team is a strong second, shooting 377, eight strokes behind leaders Santa Barbara City College. Moorpark was fourth with 387.

Ventura's Russell Boring shot a team-best 70 in the first round, followed by Ryan Turner (73), Alton Anderson (76) and Zack Kanny (77).

Third-place Canyons finished the morning round in seventh place, which solidifies Ventura's second-place position.

Conference standings with 18 rounds to play -- Santa Barbara City 58-12, Ventura 54-16, Canyons 47-23, Citrus 44-26, Bakersfield 40-30, Moorpark 19-51, Hancock 16-54, Glendale 2-68.

The top three places in Monday's WSC golf match at Debell Golf Course in Glendale were separated by a single stroke, as Canyons (369) edged Ventura (370) and Santa Barbara City (371).

Ventura's Zack Kanny earned the match medal with a 69, which moved him into fourth in the WSC's individual standings at 72.75 per round.

Ventura (25-10) sits five matches behind co-leaders Canyons and Santa Barbara (30-5) entering Monday's home match at Saticoy Country Club.

As Ventura takes an unbeaten women's basketball team to the state tournament this weekend, the most popular DVD in the state may be the game film of Ventura's 84-81 overtime win over Santa Barbara City.

Santa Barbara City coach Sandrine Krul knows how it feels to work at Blockbuster. Krul said "about 15" coaches have requested the DVD from her.

"I only give it out to a select few," said Krul. "If (Ventura coach) Ned (Mircetic) said to me 'Don't give it out,' then I wouldn't give it out."

Reached for comment, Mircetic said he has no problems exchanging films with opposing coaches.

Krul has some advice for any coach looking for film on Ventura.

"Nobody in California executes the way Ventura does," said Krul. "I just think it's hilarious. Don't watch the tape and say they can be beaten, because they can't.

"You need two-years preparation. They are well-oiled machine. They're so good it's irritating."

Here's a fine piece on the Santa Barbara City men's basketball team's dramatic 80-78 win over Cuesta by SBCC Sports Information Director Dave Loveton, as posted on PresidioSports.com:

"David Lane poured in 25 points, dished out eight assists and took over the game in the final 3:16 Saturday night, leading SBCC to a thrilling 80-78 men's basketball victory over first-place Cuesta at the Sports Pavilion.

Tom Schumacher, who led Cuesta with 23 points, hit a 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to two. After Brandon Greene missed the front end of a 1-and-1 for the Vaqueros, Schumacher tossed up a running 3-pointer that rolled around the rim, off the backboard and out.

"I know Cuesta's a great team and they finish well," said Lane, a 6-1 freshman from Akron, Ohio. "I knew I had to speed up the tempo a little, get some other people involved and also get some shots myself."

Richard Somdah added 15 points while Daniel Koches contributed 12 on 4-of-5 shooting from long distance for the Vaqueros (13-16, 5-4 WSC North), who beat the Cougars for the second time in three meetings this season...

"The important thing is we found a way to win," said Vaquero coach Morris Hodges. "Daniel Koches was big for us. In the first half, we fouled too much (making only 1-of-6 while Cuesta to hit 16-21). We overcame a lot of things, including foul trouble."

Here's the full story:

Here's the roundup item from Sunday's San Luis Obispo Tribune on Cuesta's 80-78 loss to Santa Barbara City Saturday night:

"The Vaqueros shot 34 of 65 from the field to prevail at home, where they were outrebounded 37-22, outscored in the second half and attempted 23 fewer free throws than the Cougars.

Cuesta was without Southern Mississippi signee Joe Ayarza, who was kept out by the Cougars coaching staff because of an ankle injury that had been nagging him for more than a week.

"We hope he's cleared for the stretch run," Cuesta head coach Rusty Blair said.

Four others sat out with injuries for Cuesta, which dressed only 10 players.

David Lane led Santa Barbara with game highs of 25 points and seven assists.

Tom Schumacher led Cuesta (21-10, 6-3 Western State Conference) with 23 points. He missed a potentially game-winning 3-pointer in the waning seconds.

Frank Muller added 15 for the Cougars, and Robbie McDaniel and Roger Guardia chipped in 13 apiece."

... that the Santa Barbara City College women's basketball team will get a much deserved rest during its bye Wednesday night, after fighting uphill for two losses three days apart featuring three overtime periods.

Three days after all but becoming the first team to force unbeaten No. 1 Ventura to play a 40 minute game, second-place Santa Barbara City fell two games behind the Pirates in the WSC North with a double overtime loss to Moorpark at Raider Pavilion.

Santa Barbara City coach Sandrine Krul gave all the credit to the Raiders:

"It wasn't a let down, it was a great game. (Although) we were 29 of 90 from the field."

"Moorpark played hard and made big shots."

Before the late fireworks in the women's game, the Ventura College and Santa Barbara City College men's basketball teams played a coaching chess match.

Ventura won 88-76, but not before Santa Barbara head coach Morris Hodges gave the Pirates plenty of trouble by switching from Vance Walberg's drive-and-kick offense to the triangle offense and slapping on a zone press.

"They're a good team, they're well coached and they made some adjustments," said Ventura coach Ned Mircetic. "The game was up for grabs

"It took four of five minutes, but we finally hit the brakes and put the car into gear again."

The offensive adjustment helped Santa Barbara close a 21-point deficit to 68-64 with 7:31 to play.

"We got a little lazy," said point guard Danny Benson, who keyed the game with 16 points and seven assists. "When they came back, we had to go back to what our coaches told us to do."

"I was scared there for a second," said center Will Faiivae, who had 10 points and rocked the rim with three memorable dunks. "Everyone's playing hard. We're hungry for conference."

Santa Barbara had dug out of a 19-point hole in win over Pierce last week.

"We couldn't let them do it this game," said Benson.

Special mention for Ventura guard Eric Gray, who not only scored 11 points, but helped the Pirates shut out high-scoring Santa Barbara guard Mark Keeten.

"We knew Keeten from last year," said Benson. "We did what we needed to do."

Santa Barbara City College coach Sandrine Krul on the Vaqueros' dramatic 84-81 overtime loss to visiting Ventura Wednesday night:

(on stopping Ventura's transition game)

"That was our game plan going into the game. You have to make them slow it down."

(on the dramatic finish)

"Julie Heurung played great, she made a great shot... She wanted it. She's a quality kid."

"We missed some free throws down the stretch. You've got to hit those in big games... Oh man, what can you do?"

(on three of its losses coming to No. 1 Ventura, No. 2 Mount San Antonio and No. 3 City College of San Francisco)

"That's what we do. That's why we go to those tournaments. We want to play the best."

(on how those teams would potentially match up in the state tournament)

"You know what Ventura does. Ventura capitalizes on your mistakes. No other team that we played this year does that.

"We worked so hard (to combat that). We spent 70 minutes just working on drills in practice the other day, working on things like not turning your head... They will score points off turnovers every single time. That's what makes you great.

"They're better offensively, because they make you make mistakes defensively. They do a great job of helping and then they go and they score.

"That's the difference between Ventura, San Francisco and Mount SAC."

(on the visit to Ventura on Feb. 14, when Santa Barbara could potentially snap what would be a 101-0 home WSC record for Ventura since VC coach Ned Mircetic was hired in 1990)

"We played them Feb. 14... Tell Ned I want a Valentine's Day present."

(on Mircetic coaching both the men's and women's teams)

"I don't know how he does it."

Lost in Julie Heurung's memorable performance Wednesday night is the effort put forth by the Santa Barbara City College women's basketball team, which was one bounce of the ball away from snapping Ventura's 22-game winning streak, 18-game WSC North winning streak and defeating the VC dynasty at home for the third time in four seasons.

It may not be a rivalry, but the Pirates -- who have not lost to any of the other five teams in the WSC North since I graduated high school in 1995 -- have certainly found a much needed foil in the WSC North.

In case anyone has lost count, the Vaqueros home wins in 2006 and 2007 are the Pirates only Western State Conference losses since 1995, over an incredible span of 151 games.

If the streak is impressive, breaking up the streak is similarly impressive.

Jan. 2, 2006 -- Santa Barbara City 55, Ventura 54
Jan. 28, 2006 -- Ventura 74, Santa Barbara City 63 (2 OT)
Jan. 3, 2007 -- Ventura 62, Santa Barbara City 54
Jan. 27, 2007 --Santa Barbara City 73, Ventura 67
Jan. 23, 2008 -- Ventura 73, Santa Barbara City 51
Feb. 16, 2008 -- Ventura 79, Santa Barbara City 65
Jan. 21, 2009 -- Ventura 84, Santa Barbara City 81 (OT)

Those aren't just two lucky wins. The Vaqueros are two overtime games away from a winning record over VC since 2006.

Remember now, the first game on this list broke VC's 114-game WSC win streak and the second game was perilously close to spoiling the Pirates' 18-year WSC title stranglehold and perfect 99-0 home record in WSC play under coach Ned Mircetic.

To survive, Ventura needed a weird technical foul on Santa Barbara City coach Sandrine Krul, who unintentionally interfered with play when the ball hit her while she was standing on the court, to force one overtime and three straight free throws by Ventura's McKena Richardson in waning seconds to force another overtime.

"Oh, what can do you," said Santa Barbara coach Sandrine Krul. "You know what Ventura does? Ventura capitalizes on your mistakes."

Ventura College men's basketball assistant coach Jon Wyers on defending the Santa Barbara City backcourt, which features guards David Lane and Mark Keeten, who are both in the Top 20 in the state in scoring:

"Their backcourt is one of the toughest in conference and maybe top 10 in state.

"Keeten is a phenomenal scorer that moves well without the ball and can create his own shot. We really need to deny him... When he gets ball we need to contest all shots. Eric Gray has done a great job of this in past.

"Freshman David Lane is very quick and we need to do a better job of staying in front of him this time. If he beats us off the dribble again, we will need... to get the ball out of his hands where he is less effective.

"If we shut down these two players we win the game."

Craig Davis' free kick from 30 yards out after 34 minutes was the difference as the Moorpark College men's soccer team fell to Santa Barbara City, 1-0, Tuesday afternoon in Moorpark.

As a result, Santa Barbara (9-4, 4-1) takes over first place from the Raiders (7-2-3, 3-1-1), 12 points to 10.

"It was a workmanlike effort," said SBCC coach John Sisterson in a school release. "It's always nice to get three points on the road."