For Harvard-Westlake, School Could Be Out : Volleyball: Wolverine girls play San Jose Del Mar this afternoon with more than just the State Division III championship on the line.

It’s not that extra incentive is needed. But if Harvard-Westlake defeats San Jose Del Mar High in the State Division III girls’ volleyball final today, it will win the first state championship in any sport in school history.

And the Wolverines also will win a day off from school. For the entire student body.

An unwritten--and as-yet untested--school policy dictates a day off for everyone if a Wolverine sports team wins a state title.

That possibility elicits an inevitable response from the student body.

“Everyone is telling us good luck and telling us to win,” setter Jenni Kriste said.

The Wolverines (26-1), who play at 1:30 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton, already have done plenty of winning.

They captured the Southern Section Division II title and then rolled to the State final as the top-seeded team in the Southern Region.

Now for the tough part: defeating the Northern Region representative.

Del Mar (33-5) has height, power and Sara Bronson, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker who has committed to University of the Pacific.

“We can deal with their blocks,” Wolverine middle blocker Bettina Korek said. “We’ve obviously done it before.”

Harvard-Westlake disposed of a strong Bishop Montgomery team in the State semifinals Tuesday. Now, the Wolverines have set their sights higher.

Headmaster Thomas Hudnut stopped by practice Thursday to remind the players of the possibilities of a day off, which likely would be added to a holiday break.

The Wolverines, who are making no guarantees, remain focused.

“The pressure really comes from within, not from the outside,” Harvard-Westlake Coach Jess Quiroz said.

Just the same “a lot of fans will be there,” Korek said. “It’s a big thing for our school.”