Beating Santa Ynez in Final a Tall Order for Village Christian : Volleyball: Crusaders try to match up with twin towers.

They watched a film of their titanic opponent-to-be and likely felt their stomachs somersault.

They then watched a more pleasing video--Penn State’s inconceivable upset of UCLA in the 1994 NCAA championship.

Village Christian High’s volleyball team members, who face heavily favored Santa Ynez in today’s Southern Section Division III boys’ final at Cypress College, got the message.

“It shows that anything can happen when you’re playing volleyball,” said outside hitter Kiko Banos.

Outside hitter Chad Hanson said: “In the back of my mind, I was thinking, ‘We’re Penn State, we’re Penn State.’ This is the chance of a lifetime for us.”

Village Christian has already had the season of a lifetime.

The second-seeded Crusaders (20-0) are in the final for the first time in the four-year history of their program.

Top-seeded Santa Ynez (21-0) features 6-foot-7 middle blocker George Roumain and 6-6 outside hitter Andy Witt.

Village Christian collared San Marino’s 6-7 star Tony Skogen in a semifinal victory, but Santa Ynez has twice the power.

“They’re two of the strongest high school players in the country,” said Village Christian Coach Steve Levoe.

Santa Ynez, which swept 20 of its 21 matches, hasn’t been tested, possibly a plus for Village Christian.

“If all of a sudden we’re pressed, I don’t know . . . ,” said Santa Ynez Coach Chip Fenenga. “Whether it’s positive or negative, we’ll see.”

The Crusaders will try to make it negative by countering with the 6-3 Hanson and the 6-foot Banos. Middle blockers Kurt Sorenson (6-4) and Mike Mitchell (6-3) have the unenviable task of standing up to Roumain and Witt, although everybody will help on the block.

“I view it as 6-on-2,” Hanson said. “On video, the rest of them [after Roumain and Witt] are average players. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’ve got a good chance.”

If so, teams in the future might pull out a tape of this one.