HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW : Valley Teams Showing Power, Seeking Big-Game Performers

The structure of Southern Section boys’ volleyball is changing as often as a sideout, and the Valley is making its point in the process.

The Southern Section added a 2-A Division last year, its third division overall and second since 1983, in response to the formation of first-year teams by more than 30 schools. And section officials expect more popularity for the sport.

“Every year, we just keep adding and adding and adding,” Southern Section administrator Karen Hellyer said. “It’s been very consistent, and we anticipate it will continue.”

In the process, the Valley has gradually gained respect in a sport that Orange County schools long have dominated.

Last season, Royal High won the Southern Section 2-A title and Harvard lost in the 3-A championship match.

Chatsworth won the City Section 4-A championship, its third of the ‘80s. The Chancellors have competed in seven title matches in the past nine seasons, including each of the past six.

The area’s talent also is evident in Cal State Northridge’s roster. Nine of the Matadors’ 10 players are from the Valley, including four from Chatsworth High.

“Volleyball in the Valley has come a long way,” Granada Hills Coach Tom Harp said.

The Valley has spiked the sport’s fun-in-the-sand image and produced such standouts as Coley Kyman (Reseda), Ken Lynch (Crespi), Gary Reznick (Taft), Derrick Brooks (El Camino Real) and Greg Weaver (Chatsworth).

Each has taken his talents to CSUN, where Reznick starts at setter and Kyman is a starting middle hitter. But this year’s talent is something of a mystery.

“Most teams lost their big-name players,” Harp said. “I can’t think of one Division I player around.”

One player who is difficult to overlook is Harvard’s Rick Osterloh, a 6-foot-4 senior middle blocker who is being heavily recruited by Stanford, UCLA, and UC Santa Barbara to play volleyball. Osterloh, Andres Carlo (6-3), and Matt Clark (6-6) give Harvard an imposing front line.

The Saracens’ expectations are even taller. Harvard, which was 19-1 last year, might start slowly because seven players also belong to the school’s basketball or soccer teams; the basketball team was knocked out of the Southern Section playoffs only Friday, and the soccer team is in the semifinals. But the Saracens are heavily favored to win their third consecutive San Fernando League title.

“When we finally get to work with them, I think we’ll be tough to beat,” Coach Mark Zalin said.

Adam Davirro, Brian Baise, and Nick Wootton return for Harvard, which has not lost a league match since 1986. Davirro was the Junior Olympic MVP in the 16-and-under division last summer.

Harvard will test its talent early in tough tournaments at UC Santa Barbara and Pacific Palisades.

Royal, which was 19-1 last year and won the Frontier League championship--it competes in the Marmonte League in other sports--is the local 2-A power.

Craig Parker--the 2-A Player of the Year--and All-Southern Section teammates Matt Brown and Dean Borth have graduated, but Mark Fiala, Adam White, Jeff Colton and Kevin Hambly provide Royal with powerful hitters.

“We’ll be stronger in the middle than we were last year,” said Coach Bob Ferguson, who guided Royal’s girls’ team to the 2-A title last fall.

Ferguson’s son Travis, a sophomore, is expected to replace Borth. Miguel Ramirez, who has a 32-inch vertical leap, transferred from Moorpark High. Ferguson also draws talent from last year’s 14-1 junior varsity that was coached by his wife Sandy.

“The kids hope to be undefeated in league and contend for the CIF title,” Ferguson said. “Those are pretty lofty statements, but we feel we have the talent. We’ll be strong, but the division will be more competitive, so we can’t anticipate another 19-1 season.”

Chatsworth’s entire team graduated and the Chancellors have a first-year coach in Steve West. Nevertheless, they are favored to win the West Valley League title behind Craig Hewitt and Gene Urcan, a pair of 6-5 middle hitters.

Chatsworth is relying on players from a 12-1 junior varsity, and the Chancellors possess consistent outside hitters in seniors Ryan Labovitch and Mike Nash.

“Our defense has improved quite a bit,” West said. “I expect a successful year from the kids.”

Area teams to watch:

* Campbell Hall (Camino Real League): Eight players graduated from a 22-3 team that tied Bosco Tech for the league title and lost in the semifinals of the 2-A playoffs last season. But senior middle blockers Will Fruehling (an All-Southern Section selection) and Don White return and the Vikings have talented underclassmen such as sophomore Lee Sprague.

Therefore, Coach Kris Ragland again expects to contend with Bosco Tech for the league title.

“We’re going to be all heart and guts this year,” Ragland said.

* Canyon (Golden League): The two-time defending league champion Cowboys are expected to contend for yet another title.

All-Southern Section players David Kellar, Jeff Rawlins, and Matt Dome have graduated, but Coach Ardyce Masters isn’t in a panic, though. She has a talented group of juniors that won two consecutive junior varsity league titles. Included are middle blockers Rick Phillips and Ray Sanchez, setter Eli Contreras, and outside hitters John Figueroa and Troy Aldrich.

“We’re not the power team that we were last year, but we have a lot more depth,” Masters said. “I think we’ll be very strong.”

* Camarillo (Frontier League): Matt Brimigion, Jason Miller, Chris Sampson and Brady Anderson are expected to give Camarillo, which was 7-8 in its first season and lost in the first round of the 2-A playoffs, the skills it needs to contend with Royal.

* City Section: Granada Hills, Taft, and Kennedy--which form the North Valley League--are considered Chatsworth’s stiffest challenge in the Northwest Valley Conference.

“It’s pretty wide open this year,” West said.

Granada Hills expects returning starters Dane Rood, Brian Herbst, and Arvin Buenaventura to give the Highlanders an edge.