SOUTHERN SECTION VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : La Habra Showing No Signs of Letting Up : Division II: A title tonight would simply be a logical progression for a team that has been doing that kind of thing for a long time.

Sandy Blumenthal’s first brush with volleyball greatness came in 1966, when she was the setter for the Fullerton College team that won the state junior college club title.

But Blumenthal doubts that team could have competed with the one she coaches today at La Habra High School.

“There’s no comparison at all,” she said. “Volleyball has progressed so far since then. It’s amazing to watch these kids.”

Blumenthal has watched the La Habra program come a long way. She started coaching there in 1970, helping the sport through its infancy.

Under her guidance, the Highlanders have qualified for the Southern Section playoffs 14 consecutive years. They’ve won nine league championships, including five in a row between 1980-84.

They’ve been to the section finals four times, winning the past two seasons. They’ve reached the semifinals and quarterfinals so often, their coach can’t recall each instance.

La Habra (25-0) will defend its State Division II championship at 5:30 tonight when it meets King City in the final at Cal Poly Pomona. The Highlanders have won 44 consecutive matches.

Blumenthal said she and her players feel no pressure to win No. 45. After all, winning streaks are nothing new to the program.

From 1980-84, they won 50 consecutive Freeway League matches. The streak was ended by Sunny Hills in the 1985 league opener.

Blumenthal, who attended Western High School and graduated from Cal State Long Beach after transferring from Fullerton, never imagined that kind of success when she came to La Habra. She said that in 1970, sports in the Girls’ Athletic Assn. were more recreational than competitive.

Despite her success at the high school level, Blumenthal hasn’t received a college coaching offer. But she’s not exactly looking to leave, either.

“I can’t see myself going anywhere else,” she said. “I like it here. I think it’s the best situation for me.”

Blumenthal said this year’s team is the best she has coached.

The Highlanders, Orange County’s only undefeated team, feature middle blocker Missy Clements, outside hitters Ana Kristich and Leslie Ferguson and Zrinka Kristich, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me,” Blumenthal said. “Most coaches never have the chance to coach this many good athletes. Usually, you have one or two good athletes to build around.”

Her athletes are versatile too. Ferguson, the Kristich sisters and setter Lisa Almanza are all members of the Highlander basketball team, No. 1 in the Orange County preseason rankings.

Blumenthal said it’s easy to coach them. No yelling or screaming. Discipline hasn’t been a problem.

“We can tell if she’s going to fly off the handle,” said Clements, who has played four seasons for Blumenthal. “We don’t push her temper, so she never has to blow up. She’s the calmest coach I’ve ever seen.”

Blumenthal is close to her players. After the Highlanders beat Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach to win the county championship in September, Blumenthal took the players to--where else?--Disneyland.

“The thing about Bloom is that she’s our friend as well as our coach,” Clements said. “She’s always taking us to lunch or to dinner, her treat.”

Winning the county championships helped the north county school gain respect in a sport dominated by south county teams that thrive on beach play. The closest thing La Habra has to a beach is Beach Boulevard, which weaves its way a mile west of the school.

“The Orange County championships meant more to me than winning any of the other tournaments,” Clements said. “We earned some respect from that.”

Blumenthal and the Highlanders found some weird ways to celebrate after winning their second consecutive section title two weeks ago.

Zrinka Kristich lifted Principal Tom Triggs off the ground after he presented her the first-place medal. Blumenthal held the championship plaque overhead, only to have it slip and cut her above the lip.

And there’s no telling how they’ll celebrate if they win tonight.

“Zrinka might just pick up Bloom and throw her across the gym like a torpedo,” Clements said.