Notebook : Marina’s Crouch Produces in Her Other Sport Too

Marcy Crouch was last year’s Southern Section player of the year in softball and the defender of the year in soccer. That’s common knowledge. But Crouch is also a big hit in volleyball.

She had 27 kills last week in Marina’s sweep of Long Beach Millikan--then No. 1 in the Southern Section Division II rankings. Thanks in large part to Crouch, Marina is ranked seventh in Orange County. She was on the all-tournament team at the Orange County Championships and is averaging six kills per game.

“She could be amazing,” Marina Coach Jason Bilbruck said. “I mean, this is her third sport--it’s kind of scary.

“If she would have played club and it would have been her (primary) sport, she might have been able to reach the Misty May level. What sets Misty apart is that she knows volleyball; what sets Marcy apart is that she’s just a winner.”

Crouch has won three Southern Section titles, two in soccer and one in softball. A volleyball title would give her an intriguing triple crown.

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The water polo season wastes no time in getting down to brass tacks. Though this is the first week of league play, six leagues feature games that could decide who wins the title.

Today, Brea-Olinda and Magnolia, which tied for last year’s Orange League championship, meet at Magnolia. Brea, top-ranked in Division VI and sixth-ranked in the county, is expected to easily win the title, but Magnolia is likely the Wildcats’ main competition.

Wednesday, Cypress plays at El Dorado in the Empire League, No. 3 Servite is at Tustin in the Golden West League and No. 5 El Toro plays its first Sea View League game since 1983 when it plays at No. 2 Corona del Mar.

Thursday, No. 10 Costa Mesa plays Laguna Beach in the Pacific Coast League and No. 1 San Clemente plays host to Capistrano Valley in the South Coast League.

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There are also some key showdowns in girls’ volleyball, which begins league play today.

Newport Harbor, No. 1 in the county, opens the Sea View League with a home match against Corona del Mar, the two-time defending Southern Section and State Division I champion.

Eighth-ranked Dana Hills plays host to ninth-ranked Mater Dei in a South Coast League match and third-ranked Edison plays at Esperanza in a Sunset League match. In the Century League, defending league champion Foothill plays at undefeated Orange.

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Medical update: Pacifica Coach Bill Craven said wide receiver Mike Parsons, who suffered head and neck injuries Friday during the Mariners’ game against Rancho Alamitos, underwent tests Monday at Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center. Parsons is expected to return to school today and be ready to play Friday against Garden Grove.

Rancho Alamitos Coach Doug Case said lineman Jason Bluestein, who hurt his back during Friday’s game, returned to school Monday and will see doctors today for clearance to play Friday against La Quinta.

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Martin Beck, Jon Clifford and Michael Itagaki contributed to this story.