PLAYOFF PROFILES : A Fine Eye for Hitting

Smile, Donald.

If the mug shot above is any indication, Donald Puathasnanon means business.

An outside hitter and setter for Granada Hills High, Puathasnanon undoubtedly will crank up his game face for a match this evening at 5:30 against University in the City Section 4-A Division boys’ volleyball championships at Occidental College.

But there’s at least one thing that will make him crack a smile.

“Donald’s got a great sense of humor,” teammate Mike Ripberger said. “We warm up together before practice and laugh about the last game, when he pounded someone in the face or chest with a spike. Every match we play, Donald takes someone out, without fail.”

Puathasnanon even takes out his teammates.

“In practice, if Donald gets a set and there’s no block there, my back-row players will start running,” Granada Hills Coach Tom Harp said. “They really would rather not hang in there if there’s no blocking.”

UCLA noticed the talents of the 6-foot-3 Puathasnanon at the Tournament of Champions in March. The Bruins, who recently won the NCAA title, liked his 40-inch vertical and his ability to hit over, around or through blockers.

When Puathasnanon signed a letter of intent with the Bruins last month, he may have waved goodbye to setting. Positions at swing hitter will open up with the departure of two Bruin seniors.

“You can tell he’s a natural hitter, “ UCLA assistant Coach Brian Rofer said. “He sees the block already . . . you can tell that just by watching.

“I think he’s going to make an impact here right away and surprise a lot of people.”

Frightening, but true: Puathasnanon just started spiking. He set for the Highlanders last season and only began hitting during the off-season when he joined a club team stocked with setters.

Good move.

Puathasnanon was chosen co-most valuable player of the Northwest Valley Conference after leading the Highlanders in kills, assists and aces. His statistical line from the 4-A semifinal against Chatsworth on Tuesday is typical: 17 kills, 21 assists, 16 digs.

“The team has looked to him the whole year to carry the load,” said Harp, in his 12th year at Granada Hills. “I haven’t seen that many players come through here with that kind of balance.”

Puathasnanon plays a cello-like instrument for a Thai classical music group. When he’s sick of volleyball, he picks up a basketball. His brother, Sam, was a standout for the Highlanders’ 1987 basketball team that won the 3-A title.

But Puathasnanon makes it clear that his favorite sport is volleyball. As for being the Highlanders’ hit man. . . .

“I don’t aim for a guy,” he said. “Sometimes that’s the only place I can hit the ball.”

Say “Cheese.”