Storey Turns a Page in Volleyball Career

When Heather Storey played volleyball in high school, she was easy to miss.

Storey was a skilled outside hitter on a championship team but was playing alongside some big-time players who dominated the floor.

Now at Cypress College, it’s Storey’s turn to be in the limelight and she’s growing as a player and as a person as a result.

Storey, who is 5 feet 11, leads Cypress in kills and leads the Orange Empire Conference in aces.

“I just feel like it’s my time to step out,” Storey said.

Such opportunities weren’t available during her three years on varsity at Cerritos Valley Christian.

Valley Christian won state titles in 1998 and ’97 and was led by outside hitters Jennifer Fopma and Stacy Rouwenhorst, who are playing at Pepperdine this season.

Despite the team’s success, Storey received a few letters but nothing else from four-year colleges.

“I didn’t get much attention,” she said, “but you can’t get too upset because I like to see my friends succeed.”

Storey decided she would play at a community college in hopes of earning a scholarship, but she didn’t consider Cypress . . . at first.

She lives across the street from El Camino College in Torrance and had commuted to Valley Christian for four years. She visited El Camino and considered a few other colleges closer to home, but a coach at Ichiban, her club team, suggested she call Cypress Coach Michael Soylular, who is rebuilding the Charger program.

Cypress had a mark of 47-132 in the 10 years before Soylular took over in 1997. His first two teams at Cypress combined for a 19-19 record but the Chargers are having a breakout season this fall.

They are 13-4 overall and 10-2 in conference for Soylular, who is also the director of the Laguna Beach Volleyball Club.

“The power is there, the strength is there and the desire is there,” Soylular said of Storey. “In high school, she just didn’t get the sets. . . . I call her a utility player; she can do it all.”

Storey said she was aware of Cypress’ past struggles but was more impressed by Soylular’s ability to get scholarships for his players. Soylular said more than 70 members of his club teams have received scholarships.

Storey talked with Soylular and visited the Cypress campus. She liked what she saw and heard and pointed out that the school is only 10 minutes past Valley Christian.

“My mom didn’t want me to have to drive this far,” Storey said, “but I feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

SOCCER PLAYOFFS

Santa Ana, the defending state men’s soccer champion, and Cypress, which won the women’s title last year, earned top seedings and first-round byes in the Southern California playoffs, which start today.

Fullerton (14-6-2) is seeded seventh and plays host to No. 13 Compton (9-5-1) at 1 today in a men’s game. Irvine Valley (11-8-1), seeded 12th, plays at No. 5 Hancock (8-4-4) also at 1 today.

Santa Ana (21-0) plays at home in the second round Tuesday against the winner of No. 8 Rio Hondo (15-6-2) and No. 9 Riverside (11-3-6).

Cypress was the only team from Orange County to qualify in the women’s field. The Chargers will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cal State Fullerton against the winner of No. 8 Palomar and No. 9 Pasadena.

The third round for men and women is Nov. 20. The state tournament is Nov. 27-28 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.