FLAIR PAIR

Looking more like a grocery-store display than girls’ volleyball players, Kelly Gaudino and Julie Taylor were dressed for the occasion.

Aluminum foil? Check. Plastic-wrap? Check.

The occasion was Halloween, and Gaudino and Taylor were wrapped in kitchen products, making an appearance at a school dance.

Though not scoring points with the fashion police, the friends deserved a day of daffy dressing. They have put in plenty of work lately for La Canada High, which is having one of its best volleyball seasons.

The Spartans are ranked No. 4 in Southern Section Division III and, with victories over Blair and South Pasadena this week, would complete their third consecutive undefeated season in Rio Hondo League play.

The season may have hinged on an early match against Flintridge Sacred Heart. Taylor and Gaudino led the Spartans (14-0, 8-0 in league play) to a five-game victory, breaking a five-year losing streak to the Tologs.

“We all knew this would be the year to do it,” said Gaudino, who had 34 kills in the match. “It set the tone for the season. If we would have lost, who knows? But we’ve had a great season since then.”

Taylor, who possesses a solid all-around game, and Gaudino, the team’s kill leader, are similar in several ways. Both are seniors. Both are outside hitters. Taylor is 5 feet 10, Gaudino is 5-9.

Both have been sidelined by sprained left ankles.

And both remain active when they’re not playing volleyball for La Canada.

Taylor, who is taking four Advanced Placement classes, carries a 4.35 grade-point average. After the high school season, she will join the Santa Monica Beach Club team, which last year had several top players from the region, including Ashley Julian of Harvard-Westlake, Brynne Young of Flintridge Sacred Heart and Michaela Skelly of Royal.

Relaxing isn’t part of Taylor’s routine.

“I don’t know how to relax,” said Taylor, who plans to apply to Georgetown, Dartmouth and Northwestern, among others. “I just keep pushing on.”

Gaudino, whose brother, Greg, is a promising sophomore basketball player, is also a go-getter type.

She is involved in student government, is a member of Students Against Drunk Driving and is a teen leader at her church.

At times, it appears the only rest these two get is during match timeouts. But when play resumes, it’s obvious where the ball is going.

“We have two dead-strong outside hitters,” said Coach Kevin Boyke of La Canada. “They’re both just neck and neck with each other. We’re very fortunate.”

The Spartans’ fortunes could get interesting in coming weeks.

If the Spartans remain ranked No. 4, they could potentially play top-ranked Bishop Montgomery and 6-3 middle blocker Katie Olsovsky in the semifinals.

The winner of that match could play No. 2-ranked Harvard-Westlake for the championship.

“They are pretty strong programs,” Taylor said. “But I also think we’ve been working hard enough that we can play with them.”