COUNTY VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : La Habra Moves Up, Wins Title

Sandy Blumenthal didn’t hesitate last summer when she moved the La Habra girls’ volleyball team to the top division in the Orange County championships.

And Saturday night, the coach was glad she made the move.

The Highlanders, seeded third, went on a 12-0 run in the fifth game to defeat second-seeded Laguna Beach, 15-8, 10-15, 16-14, 13-15, 15-2, in the Division I championship game at the Edison gym.

It was the second consecutive upset for the Highlanders (4-0), who defeated Corona del Mar, seeded No. 1 and ranked second nationally by Volleyball Monthly magazine, in a five-game semifinal. Corona del Mar played most of the match without starter Tracy Schriber, who injured her ankle.

Blumenthal said winning the tournament gave hope for north county teams in a sport dominated by south county schools.

“The schools in (south county) get a lot of publicity and all the college coaches come to watch them play,” she said. “We’re way up on the other side of the county. We’re the unknowns.

“I wanted us to play in this division because I thought we needed the experience and I thought we could compete. To win this is a big boost.”

The Highlanders, ranked 11th nationally, got their biggest boost from senior Missy Clements, who had 25 kills and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Joining her on the all-tournament team were Lara Carlsen (Corona del Mar), Tara Kroesch (Newport Harbor), Ana Kristich (La Habra), Michelle Moore (El Toro), Ashley Wacholder (Laguna Beach) and Kealy Clark (Laguna Beach).

La Habra’s victory overshadowed a strong performance by Wacholder, Laguna Beach’s 5-foot-9 swing hitter, who finished with a match-high 39 kills.

Wacholder was held scoreless in the fifth game while La Habra scored the first 12 points. Laguna Beach committed six hitting errors during the streak, and Karin Schambeck served all 12 points for La Habra.

“We had an outstanding server back there for us,” Blumenthal said. “She got on a roll and we got the momentum.”

Laguna Beach Coach Lance Stewart said his team struggled passing the ball in the final game.

“I knew going in that passing was going to be our weakness,” he said. “It was that simple. We just didn’t pass the ball.”

La Habra, the defending Southern Section 3-A and state Division II champions, used a tall lineup featuring Zrinka Kristich (6-5), Leslie Ferguson (6-1), Clements (5-10) and Ana Kristich (6-1).

“La Habra’s very unorthodox,” Stewart said. “They’re a big team, and they play scrappy volleyball.”

Zrinka and Ana Kristich each had 16 kills for La Habra. Rachel Wacholder, Ashley’s sister, added 21 kills for Laguna Beach (2-1).

In Division II:

Santa Margarita 1, University 0--Lead by Division II most valuable player Meegan Morse, Santa Margarita defeated University, 15-6, at Marina High School. The Eagles advanced to the final game by defeating Sunny Hills, 15-11, in the quarterfinals and Tustin, 15-9, in the semifinals.

In Division III:

Valencia 1, Villa Park 0--Valencia defeated Villa Park, 15-4, in the championship match at Westminster High.