Slumber Party Has Helped Chatsworth Improve Chemistry : Volleyball: With as much talent as last season’s City championship team and improved unity among players, the Chancellors are expected to win again in ’95.

If Chatsworth High repeats as City Section girls’ volleyball champion, it won’t be because of standouts Jennifer Hodges and Karla Campo: They have graduated.

Nor will it be because nobody has heard of the Chancellors: Their victory over powerful Palisades in the title match guaranteed instant recognition.

If they take the City 4-A championship again, Chatsworth can give credit to . . . sleep-overs.

To improve unity, the Chancellors held a team slumber party last Friday.

They made caramel popcorn. They watched movies. They sang. They felt like a team.

Not surprisingly, more pajama parties are in the works.

“This Friday,” announced junior outside hitter Jennifer Joseph, an All-City selection last year. “There’s nothing fake on our team. It’s not like somebody doesn’t like somebody else. We’re all friends.”

Talent was the main reason the Chancellors upset Palisades last year and became the first Valley team to win the 4-A title.

Unity, however, wasn’t too high on the checklist. Individual numbers sometimes outweighed group performance.

The talent level is nearly the same--perhaps better--this season.

As for the concept of team? No comparison.

“As a whole, we’re a lot better team because we’re not just individuals,” junior setter Pamela George said. “A lot of people are on this team just because of the fun we have.”

Coach Bud Dow, in his second year at Chatsworth after 18 at Birmingham, likes what he sees.

“It’s difficult to harbor animosities if you learn that much more about a person and what makes them tick,” he said. “This year, there appears to be a stronger mental game throughout the team.”

Dow should know a thing or two about chemistry. He teaches it at Chatsworth.

The team concept starts with Dow, who won the City title in his first year at Chatsworth, but gives most of the credit to his predecessor, Steve Berk.

“I lucked into some very good athletes and simply molded them together,” Dow said.

It’s not that simple, said Berk, who now coaches at St. Bonaventure after leaving as a teacher and coach at Chatsworth.

“I had a lot of great athletes before and I never won a championship,” Berk said of Chatsworth’s past. “From the girls [Dow] has got coming back, he could possibly be stronger. He’s got the potential for an awesome team.”

Success has its price.

The Chancellors, who finished 14-5 last season and went undefeated in Northwest Valley League play, will be targeted by many opponents.

“A lot of teams are going to want to get us,” Joseph said. “Now we have a reputation.”

Senior middle blockers Nancy Vincent (6 feet 1) and Tynitra Wilson (6-0) will be tough at the net. With Joseph (5-10) and Michelle George (5-10) attacking from the outside, the equation looks good.

Add some unity to it, and it looks even better.

A look at some of the region’s other top teams:

* Royal: Last year, the Highlanders failed to make the playoffs. This year, they could make a run at the Marmonte League title.

Senior setter Heidi Ferguson (5-9) orchestrates the offense, which, in the words of her father and coach, Bob Ferguson, “can fire with anybody. This could be a real good year if we stay healthy.”

Seniors Michelle Lampkin (5-10 opposite hitter) and Lakesha DeBerry (6-1 middle blocker) should contribute.

* Thousand Oaks: Middle blocker Jenn Detmer (6-2) may be the best junior in the area.

“She has the potential to be a very dominating player,” second-year Coach Robert Haar said.

Sophomore outside hitter Courtney Miller (6-0) is strong and consistent, and seniors Elizabeth Brasler (5-7 outside hitter) and Michelle Stevenson (5-11 opposite hitter) provide experience.

* Agoura: The Chargers won the Marmonte League title the past two seasons and the return of senior middle blocker Meagan Thomas (6-0) makes them a contender again.

“[Thomas] was basically unstoppable last year, and we’re looking for the same this year,” said first-year Coach Aaron Boss.

Senior setter Heather Barrus and junior outside hitter Talheen Varian (5-10) offset the loss of three senior starters.

* Harvard-Westlake: Amanda Selby now plays for UCLA, but the Wolverines remain loaded.

Senior setter Jenni Kriste (6-0), junior outside hitter Christina Bohle (5-10) and senior swing hitter Leslie Coben (5-9) return from a team that advanced to the Southern Section Division II semifinals before losing to Millikan.

* Burroughs: The Indians won the Foothill League title last year, but were ousted in the first round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Seniors Christy Russell (5-8 middle blocker), Liz Vejar (5-7 outside hitter) and Julie Pham (5-7 middle blocker) likely will lead the undersized Indians past the first round this year.

* Canyon: The improving Cowboys should challenge Burroughs for Foothill League supremacy.

Three seniors lead the way: outside hitter Andrea Koman (5-10), setter Wendy Roof (5-5) and middle blocker April Kelly (6-1).

* Van Nuys: Young but talented, the Wolves expect key contributions from sophomores Angela Eckmier (6-0 middle blocker) and Cassie Allison (5-9 outside hitter).

Seniors Mira Lew (5-9 middle blocker) and Keri Otake (5-2 setter) return for Van Nuys, which lost to Chatsworth in the second round of the City 4-A playoffs.

* Nordhoff: Four seniors return for the Rangers, who lost to Santa Ynez in the Division IV semifinals last year.

Outside hitters Jodi Ferro (5-9) and Kari Sims (5-5), and middle blockers Carlee Franklin (5-10) and Rachel Carlson (5-9) make the Rangers a Frontier League favorite.