Wolverines Aim to Keep Momentum

Harvard-Westlake High, the boys’ volleyball team with all the preseason adulation, is still trying to find itself.

Most teams ranked No. 5 in the Southern Section Division I usually have no need to complain.

But Harvard-Westlake (12-2, 10-1 in Mission League play) is looking for a little more.

As in a victory tonight in the regular-season finale against No. 2-ranked Loyola (14-0, 11-0).

With a victory, Harvard-Westlake, which lost to Loyola in five games last month, could earn a top-four seeding for the division playoffs that start on May 14.

With a victory, the Wolverines would share the league title with Loyola.

With a victory, the Wolverines, who also lost to top-ranked Royal earlier this season, could finally count themselves among the elite.

Yes, there’s plenty at stake tonight at Loyola.

“We’re excited,” Harvard-Westlake Coach Jess Quiroz said. “We’re relaxed. We’re playing some good volleyball now. I think we’re exactly where we want to be.”

The Wolverines have improved their blocking, a problem in their loss to Loyola, when Stanford-bound Curt Toppel pounded 38 kills, including several from the back row.

Harvard-Westlake outside hitter Bill Strickland, who also signed with Stanford, had 30 kills against Loyola, but the Wolverines’ attack faded in the fifth game.

Loyola looked impressive in a run through the prestigious Redondo tournament last weekend. The Cubs advanced to the final before losing to Royal.

“I’m not going to kid anyone,” Quiroz said. “This is a big one for us. It has a lot of implications.”

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Thousand Oaks may be the most unpredictable team in the region.

The Lancers (11-4) lost to Harvard-Westlake in five games and to Royal in four games, “quality” losses to be sure.

Then they turned around and failed to advance from pool play at the Redondo tournament.

“I think it’s kind of growing pains for this program,” said first-year Coach Tom Black.

“To be a great team means controlling your side of the net mentally and physically. Sometimes we’re on, sometimes we’re not. Hopefully, by the time playoffs come, we’ll be clicking.”

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Five of the eight remaining teams in the City Championship playoffs are from the Valley.

The toughest draw goes to No. 2-seeded Taft (12-1), which plays defending champion and No. 10-seeded Palisades (10-4) today in a rematch of the title match last year.

Palisades tied Venice for first place in the Coastal Conference but lost a coin flip for playoff seeding purposes.

Thus, Taft will play the defending champion earlier than expected.

“What can you do?” said Taft Coach Doug Magorien, who was visibly upset after the seeding meeting last week. “The whining part is over. The playing part has begun.”

Other City Championship quarterfinal matchups: Venice (11-3) at top-seeded Monroe (14-0); No. 5 Chatsworth (9-4) at No. 4 Garfield (14-0); No. 6 Poly (12-2) at No. 3 Granada Hills (11-3).