Deana Shively:Taking Charge in the Clutch

Deana Shively was forced to shoulder extra responsibility in Saturday’s Division II state volleyball championship match when La Habra High School teammate Missy Clements dislocated her knee in the first game.

Shively, an outside hitter and The Times’ Athlete of the Week, led her team with 18 kills as the Highlanders (21-1) defeated Moraga Campolindo, 9-15, 15-10, 4-15, 15-5, 15-7, for their first state volleyball title.

“She was great,” La Habra Coach Sandy Blumenthal. “She had to take charge when Missy was injured, and she kept pulling the team together, convincing them not to give up, besides picking up the slack.”

Said Shively: “It’s my senior year and I knew we had to do it. It was my last game, no matter what.”

Shively was named to the all-tournament team and earned all-Freeway League honors for the second consecutive year.

Shively said she was happy about the state title--though the Highlanders had been league champions seven times in the 1980s, they had never won the Southern Section 3-A title--but now she has other things on her mind.

Soccer practice began a month ago and her first game is today.

Shively plays left wing on the soccer team and is a long jumper on the track team.

“I’ve already missed a (soccer) game,” Shively said. “Practice started as soon as volleyball ended league, but I haven’t been able to be there because we went on (to the playoffs).

“I’m supposed to play in the game (today). I should really be able to walk Wednesday,” she said, laughing.

Shively said she would like to play volleyball in college.

“Volleyball comes easiest to me,” she said. “I just love the game. But I wish I was taller. I don’t think I’ll grow much more, so I haven’t really looked at any four-year schools.”

She said she might attend a community college and transfer to a university. “I’m not really sure what I’m going to do, but I know I better do it soon,” she said.

In the meantime, Shively has a soccer game to play.

TOP PERFORMERS

Lisa Almanza and Ana Kristich of La Habra, both juniors, were named to the all-tournament team in Saturday’s Division II state volleyball championships. Almanza, a setter, and Kristich, a middle blocker, helped La Habra win its first state volleyball title.

Sara Bone scored 21 points for El Toro Saturday as the Chargers defeated University, 69-35, in the Irvine girls’ basketball tournament. Teammate Karie Yoshioka added 19 points, seven assists and seven steals.

Sophomore Keri Phebus, Corona del Mar’s No. 1 tennis player, won the Southern Section singles title for the second consecutive year, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, over sophomore Anne Mall of Dana Hills.

Karin Schambeck had six aces in La Habra’s state championship volleyball victory Saturday, including eight consecutive points in the fifth game.

Deana Shively

La Habra High School

Position: Outside hitter

Height, Weight, Class: 5-6 1/2, 127, Senior

Last week: Shively had 18 kills in the state Division II volleyball title game.

Season: Shively, the team capain, led La Habra to the Freeway League and the Southern Section 3-A titles.