Missy Clements

School: La Habra High School

Sport: Volleyball

Position: Middle blocker

Class: Senior

Clements, a three-year starter for the Highlanders, continued her strong play with 25 kills in La Habra’s five-game victory over Laguna Beach in the Division I finals at the Orange County Championships Saturday. Clements was named the tournament’s most valuable player as she was the first weekend of the season, when La Habra, ranked 11th in the nation, won the Desert Classic tournament at San Bernardino Valley College. La Habra, the defending Southern Section 3-A Division II state champions, upset Corona del Mar, ranked second in the nation, in the semifinals of the Orange County Championships. The Highlanders moved from third to the top spot in the Orange County volleyball poll. La Habra Coach Sandy Blumenthal said Clements has improved her play on the back row this season. “She’s an outstanding player, just an excellent player,” Blumenthal said. “But we emphasize the team. Nobody looks good alone, and it was through the help of her teammates that she was able to win the MVP (award).”

Other top performers:

Freshman Jennifer Gillis, who ran 18 minutes 3 seconds for three miles for second place at the Woodbridge Cross-Country Invitational and helped Irvine to the large-schools’ team championship Saturday.

Martha Pinto, who ran 17:34, the fastest time for a county girl Saturday at the Woodbridge Cross-Country Invitational. Pinto finished third in the medium-schools’ race.

Amy Tamblyn, who had 47 kills, 14 blocks and eight aces in Valencia’s 12 games during the Orange County Championships. Tamblyn had six kills in Valencia’s 15-4 victory over Villa Park in the Division II finals Saturday.

Ashley Wacholder, who had 39 kills in Laguna Beach’s loss to La Habra in Saturday’s finals of the Orange County Championships.