Newbury Park Facing Tall Task Against Mitty

There is a reason center Kerri Walsh of Archbishop Mitty High in San Jose averages 17 rebounds a game. It is the same reason the 6-2 Walsh was the only junior named to the USA Today/Mizuno All-American girls’ volleyball team.

She can simply outjump anyone on the floor.

“She can dunk a tennis ball,” said her coach, Sue Phillips-Chargin. “Other coaches feel she plays about 6-6.”

Which means by the time she reaches college, Walsh could be playing in the stratosphere.

Walsh, who averages 22 points a game, will lead Mitty (27-3) against Newbury Park (31-1) in the State Division III championship game at 2:30 p.m. today at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

The Monarchs have relied on their quickness and athleticism to force turnovers and score in transition. In the Northern California final, they forced 26 turnovers and blew out Novato, 65-42.

“We have some pretty good on-ball pressure and we deny the passing lanes well,” Phillips-Chargin said.

Senior guard Leslie Quintal (12 points a game), who has committed to St. Mary’s College, hit four three-point baskets against Novato.

Junior Reyna Fortenberry (12 points, eight rebounds) can play at guard or in the post at 5-10.

Newbury Park Coach Nori Parvin acquired a tape of one of the Monarchs’ games through a contact in Northern California.

“I think we match up very well against them,” Parvin said of her team, which has won 26 games in a row. “But we’re not gonna change what we’ve been doing all year. We’re gonna do what we do best.”