City Section’s Volley Broadsides Van Nuys

The playoff run by the Van Nuys High girls’ volleyball team ended with sudden swiftness Wednesday.

Barring a successful appeal, the Wolves have been disqualified from the City Section 4-A Division playoffs because they used an ineligible player. They also may be disqualified from playoff competition next year.

As a result of City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege’s investigation into the eligibility of senior outside hitter Sharon Foster, Tuesday night’s first-round victory over El Camino Real and 14 regular-season victories have been forfeited by the top-seeded Wolves.

Foster transferred from Village Christian last May and moved into her aunt’s Van Nuys residence because her mother, Ruth, opened a restaurant in Canyon Country and works late hours.

By allowing Foster to play--she did not miss a match this season--Van Nuys violated Rule 214 (B) of the City rule book, which says that if a player moves, the parents or legal guardian must move with the player for eligibility purposes.

School officials appealed the decision and will meet with City official Dan Isaacs this morning.

Wolves Coach Dave Bessler asked school administrators if Foster was eligible when she transferred to Van Nuys and again in September before the season. He was told she was eligible.

Aware that Fiege acquired Foster’s transfer paperwork Tuesday, Bessler asked Athletic Director Steve Kalan if Foster could play against El Camino Real.

“I said if there’s any doubt, let’s hold her out,” Bessler said. “He said not to worry about it.”

Had Foster sat out Tuesday, Fiege’s ruling would be different.

“The team would have gone on and the player would have been removed,” she said.

But once an ineligible player competes in the playoffs, that’s it. Next season’s playoff possibilities for Van Nuys are also unknown.

“There is a statement that a school that plays an ineligible player in the playoffs is suspended from playoffs the next year,” Fiege said. “It’s not set in stone. It’ll be up to the rules committee to finalize that decision [Dec. 5].”

Fiege said the Wolves may face other sanctions because of Tuong Nguyen’s double role as a Van Nuys assistant and as coach of Valley Thunder, a club team.

Five Van Nuys players, including Foster, are members of Valley Thunder. That might violate Rule 238, which limits out-of-season contact coaches have with players.

“That issue is not as immediate,” Fiege said. “It can come later.”

For the present, Van Nuys players emerged teary-eyed from a closed-door session Wednesday with Bessler.

Foster would not comment.

“I feel crappy,” Kalan said. “I know everybody’s blaming me. I’m sorry.”

Chatsworth Coach Bud Dow said he brought the case to Fiege at the request of three coaches.

“They asked me, as an advisory committee member, to take it to the [City Section] staff,” Dow said. “I have no stake in this.”

El Camino Real receives a victory over Van Nuys and plays at Bell tonight in the second round.