Foster Now Experiencing Net Gains : His Volleyball Skills Are Serving Up Some Promising Options : THE TIMES’ ALL-COUNTY BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Hugh Foster’s future, which springs from his extraordinary ability to play volleyball, is, by all practical means, assured.

In four varsity seasons--three at Hawaii’s Punahou High and this season at Newport Harbor High--his teams have never lost a match.

In his junior year at Punahou, he was named the state’s player of the year.

His team at Newport Harbor went 18-0 this season and won the Southern Section’s 4-A championship. Foster was named the 4-A player of the year and is The Times’ Orange County Player of the Year in boys’ volleyball.

He played in two U.S. Olympic Festivals and was named the most valuable player in 1985. Each time he was the youngest player competing.

All of which has made Hugh Foster the hottest volleyball property to come out of high school since Karch Kiraly left Santa Barbara High in the late 1970s.

“I think he will become an unstoppable player in college,” said Bob Yoder, USC coach.

That thought is widely shared, so Foster’s options are booming.

“I’ve heard so much, I’m just trying to sort things out,” he said. “There are a lot of good things out there.”

And a lot of good things to be said about Hugh Foster.

“He’s a big impact type player,” said Rudy Suwara, the coach at San Diego State, which is courting Foster.

“If he comes here we’re going to take some major league revenge next year,” Suwara said in reference to this year’s losing record. “He’s the kind of player that could make this school a national contender quick.”

There is so much praise being heaped upon Foster by so many schools eager to have him play for them that it just might be too much of good thing. So many happy trails, but only one to travel.

As it is now, Foster says he is deciding among three schools--USC, SDSU and UC Santa Barbara. If he attends USC or Santa Barbara, both perennial national powers, he is expected to make them favorites for the national championship. If he decides on San Diego State, the school’s program would gain national prominence and Suwara would begin making out his pay-back list.

“I’ve liked every school I’ve been to,” Foster said. “Everyone’s been great to me. I think no matter where I go, I’ll be all right.”

If he’s nervous about what comes next, Foster doesn’t show it. His outlook is strictly Alfred E. Neuman (“What, me worry?”). Well, that is, if Alfred E. were 6-feet 5-inches tall and built like a duplex.

And it’s his look that may one day move Foster from the hierarchy of volleyball to the high tax bracket. Clothing companies such as Quiksilver have pegged Foster as the next great mannequin.

“The guy is good-looking, and by the time he makes his name in college, he’s going to sell a lot of clothes for someone,” said Danny Kwock, marketing director for Quiksilver.

People such as Kwock are minding a sizable heap of gold to shovel at Foster at the end of a four-year rainbow. The scenario is that Foster will make his name in college, make his name in the Olympics and turn to beach volleyball, in which he will be able to sell his name on shorts.

“I’ve talked to people about it,” Foster said. “It’s too soon to make any decisions, but it’s something I can’t ignore. I think it will be great once the time comes. The way I look at it, I can’t lose.”

Considering he never has before, that’s a safe bet.

THE TIMES’ ALL-COUNTY Volleyball Team

John Alstrom Newport Harbor Hugh Foster Newport Harbor Alan Knipe Marina Matt Perry Laguna Beach Rob Mape Corona del Mar Ryan Mennealy El Toro

SECOND TEAM

Scott Herdman Laguna Beach Matt Kot Woodbridge Al Vistaunet El Toro Mike Whitcomb La Quinta Dean Cunningham Hunt. Beach Drew Sheward Newport Harbor