HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS : Louisville Wins Easily in Volleyball Playoffs

A sign greeting fans at the Louisville High-Hoover volleyball game served as an ominous warning to visiting Hoover: “Dr. George says 50% chance of rain, but no Tornadoes.”

It also turned out to be accurate.

Louisville disposed of the Hoover Tornadoes, 15-5, 16-14, 15-6, Wednesday in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs. The win proved that, although Dr. George of KABC-TV may underestimate the possibility of rain, he knows when Tornadoes don’t have a chance.

Louisville (12-3) served Hoover out of the match. Although the Royals had only one kill, most of their serves were so strong that the Tornadoes barely managed to get a hand on them.

“We played an outstanding serve-and-passing game,” Louisville Coach Barbara Gomperz said.

Louisville’s Becky Long started the match with seven consecutive serve points.

Hoover came back with four points of its own, but Therese Matus put together four strong serves in a row--three of which were barely tipped by Hoover players--and the Royals went on to win the game.

When Louisville struggled with its serving in the second game, Hoover played much more competitively. Six Louisville serves either hit the net or went wide.

Hoover took a 14-13 lead before Louisville’s serving proficiency returned. Lisa Funari’s serve was barely tipped to tie the score, 14-14, and Mary Hudson’s service winner gave Louisville the win.

Hudson’s seven kills in the third game assured Louisville of its first playoff victory in three years.

“We were great,” senior setter Claudia Viozzoli said, “and we’re still improving. I don’t think we’ve reached our peak yet.”

Hudson has improved throughout the season. The 5-8 sophomore worked on her outside hitting more than usual in preparation for the playoffs, Gomperz said.

“She is awesome. She is just going to be the No. 1 queen volleyball stud,” Viozzoli said. “When I needed good hits, I got it to her.”

Hudson led Louisville with 10 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Marybeth Giordano added six kills for Louisville, which won the San Fernando Valley League with a 10-0 record.

In another first-round 4-A Division match, Chaminade defeated Marlborough, 16-14, 13-15, 11-15, 15-9, 15-8, at Chaminade. In first-round 1-A Division matches, Village Christian defeated Desert, 15-0, 15-5, 15-6 and Paraclete defeated Providence, 15-11, 16-14, 15-4.

WATER POLO

Cabrillo 11, Calabasas 6--Cabrillo eliminated visiting Calabasas from the 2-A Division playoffs. Richard McCarty scored five goals and Cavan Haile added one for Calabasas (14-7).

MEN’S WRESTLING

Rio Hondo 21, Moorpark 18--Ross Boomhower, at 190 pounds, scored Moorpark’s only pin in the Western State Conference match at Rio Hondo. Moorpark’s Dan Hester (118) and Keith Hernandez (126) won by decision along with Junior Andrade (134). The Raiders’ record dropped to 6-4, 1-2 in conference meets.