HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW : Best of Friends Make for the Best of Teams : Tight-Knit Groups at Royal and Thousand Oaks Aspire to a Mutual Goal--4-A Title

The players on the volleyball teams at Royal and Thousand Oaks highs are not the sort to leave through different gym doors and go their separate ways after practice.

The Thousand Oaks players spent a week together in Lake Tahoe this summer, water skiing, hiking, suntanning, and, yes, playing volleyball against local teams.

Royal’s team prays together before games, occasionally goes out after games for dinner and has spa parties at Coach Bob Ferguson’s house. Ferguson, who lives across the street from Royal, says players from his team are always running in and out of his house.

Each coach of the closely knit groups took his team for a three-day vacation in August. Both teams went to beach houses. Their objectives: have fun and set season goals.

The teams share a common goal--to beat each other. The rivals, which meet tonight at 6:30 at Thousand Oaks, have dominated the Marmonte League this decade.

From 1980 to 1985, Royal owned or shared the league championship. In 1986, Thousand Oaks seized the title in Coach Ron Beick’s first season and the Lancers have not relinquished it since. Nor do they intend to.

Thousand Oaks, the Southern Section 2-A Division champion in 1986 and 1987, moved up to the 4-A level last year and lost in the final to Gahr, 15-11, 15-8, 15-2. Lancer players say Beick has made practices tougher this season--and for good reason.

Seven seniors on the team have something left to accomplish before they graduate. “This is our last chance to win the 4-A title,” senior middle blocker Betsy Moore says, “and Coach Beick is doing everything in his power for us to reach that goal.”

With his power, Beick has made push-ups common at Thousand Oaks practices. Every time a ball hits the floor in practice, the 12 players on the top-ranked 4-A team each do 50 of them. Beick says such practice tactics produce an aggressive team, one that is not afraid to dive on the court for balls.

“Everybody kind of just sighs, looks at each other, and moans when it is push-up time,” says senior setter Shauna Campbell, a three-year starter. “But we know it’s for our own good.”

A benefit of the practice regimen was realized during a recent match against Louisville, currently ranked No. 2 in the 4-A Division. Trailing, 13-4, in the third game, the Lancers rallied to win, 16-14, and eventually took the match in five games.

The significance of that comeback should not be lost on Thousand Oaks opponents. Says captain Amy Chellevold, a four-year letterman: “We don’t like to lose.”

But the Lancers aren’t all work, no play, as Beick is quick to point out. When Thousand Oaks won the 30-team Prep National Tournament at Cal State Dominguez Hills in August, opposing coaches spent as much time praising the team’s spirit as its talent.

“They yell and scream after almost all point-winning plays,” Beick says. “And that’s their own doing.”

Chellevold says that the team takes winning very seriously but also knows how to have a good time doing it. The more they whoop it up and have fun playing, the better the Lancers do.

Fun also takes the form of good-natured teasing of Beick at practice and bus rides to games.

“Anything goes from the clothes I wear and the way I walk,” Beick said. “Lately, they’ve been getting a lot of mileage out of my recent engagement.”

Beick and his team are hoping the marriage of fun and games produces another title.

A look at Southern and City section teams to watch in their respective divisions:

Thousand Oaks: Seniors Amy Chellevold, called “the best setter in Southern California and maybe the country,” by Coach Ron Beick, middle blocker Betsy Moore, and setter Shauna Campbell have been to the 2-A (1987) and 4-A (1988) Southern Section finals.

That trio, along with four other seniors, will try to erase the blemish of last season’s loss to Gahr in the 4-A final. Senior middle blocker Debbie Bueche (5-10) provides a force at the net.

Royal: The consistent Highlanders have a strong inside game to challenge Thousand Oaks. Wendy Brown, a 5-10 All-Marmonte League selection last year, sophomore Jennifer Hamilton (5-11) and Stephanie Champ lead the way. Setter Michelle Pagan quarterbacks the attack.

Coach Bob Ferguson, whose team won its own tournament last weekend, also inherits a talented group of newcomers from his wife Sandy, the junior varsity coach.

Louisville: The defending San Fernando Valley League champion seems capable of retaining its title and advancing further than the second round (the Royals lost at that juncture last year) in the Southern Section 4-A Division playoffs. Louisville is ranked No. 2 in the 4-A, behind only Thousand Oaks.

Louisville’s lineup includes four all-league selections, including Mary Beth Giordano, the league player of the year. Other all-league selections are Torie Sumner, Mary Hudson and Lisa Funari.

Notre Dame: If any team is capable of beating Louisville in San Fernando Valley League play, it is Notre Dame. The threesome of Shannon Tuttle, Mary Strong and Stephanie Burns is solid. Maria Thorpe and Jill Howden also will contribute.

Alemany: A trio of experienced players gives Alemany an outside shot at the San Fernando Valley League crown. Twins Kim and Alison Avery, both 5-foot-10 outside hitters, and 6-1 middle blocker Marie Motil will lead the way.

Agoura: The defending Frontier League champion probably will repeat this year--for the last time. Next year, Agoura will join the 4-A Division Marmonte League.

The Chargers, ranked No. 1 in the 3-A, won’t be missed in the Frontier, where they have left everyone in the dust for years. Christy Janssen, the league player of the year last season, and Karen Clemens provide a solid nucleus.

Calabasas: Ranked No. 7 in the 3-A, the Coyotes always seem to thrive in the playoffs. Last season, Calabasas was eliminated in the semifinal round.

If the team again threatens for the title, Keri Ellman and Taleen Noradoukian, both senior outside hitters, will lead the way. Sophomores Kristi Thomson and Shannon Yamasaki will alternate at setter.

La Reina: With every starter returning from last year’s team, the Regents are one of the favorites in the 2-A, in which they are currently ranked fourth.

Outside hitter Carolyn Russo, the Tri-Valley League Player of the Year in 1988, leads a veteran group that advanced to the 2-A quarterfinals last year. Heather Freeman, a 6-1 middle blocker, is a tower of power at the net.

Village Christian: Led by Danyelle Weeks, an all-Alpha League selection last season, the Crusaders should make a legitimate run at the Southern Section 1-A title. Weeks is backed by outside hitter Julie Harvey. Village Christian is ranked fourth in the 1-A.

Campbell Hall: Inch for inch, 5-foot-8 outside hitter Crissy Mills is one of the area’s best. A high-jump specialist on the track team, Mills also excels at the net. Returning All-Delphic League selections Heather Lucas, Jeanelle Meskimen and Kyrsten Williams are the main reasons the team is ranked fifth in the 1-A.

Chatsworth: The defending North Valley League champion advanced further than any other Valley team in the City Section 4-A Division last year, falling in the semifinal round to eventual champion Carson.

The Chancellors probably will battle it out with El Camino Real for the league title; the teams have split two preseason matches. Chatsworth’s heavy hitters are Lori Mertes, a versatile standout on the track team, Marie Mariano and Lisa Koven. All three are middle or outside hitters.

El Camino Real: The Conquistadores should offer Chatsworth its toughest competition from among Valley City 4-A teams. Jennifer Dinaberg, Rachel Berger and Kristin Kanter, all juniors, should make El Camino Real the favorite next season.

Cleveland: The Cavaliers won the Venice Invitational last weekend and might have an outside shot at the City 4-A title.

Monica Martin and Mari-Len Palomares, both seniors, and freshman setter Michele Diana are impact players. Cleveland should know where it stands pretty quickly--the Cavaliers open Northwest Valley Conference play with Chatsworth on Monday.

A possible boon for Cleveland, El Camino Real or Chatsworth: For the first time, the City Section will send both the 4-A champion and runner-up to the state tournament this year. In the past, the 4-A and 3-A champions have advanced.

Staff writer Steve Elling contributed to this story.