PREP EXTRA : SOUTHERN SECTION REPORT : Volleyball Takes Center Stage Today

Girls’ volleyball playoffs do not begin until November, but a championship-caliber match will take place today at 5 p.m. when unbeaten Marymount High travels to unbeaten Flintridge Sacred Heart.

Marymount was swept out of the Southern Section Division IV-AA playoffs last season by eventual section and Division IV state champion Cerritos Valley Christian, which finished 33-0 and was regarded by many prep volleyball observers as the top team in the nation.

Marymount, ranked third in this week’s Southern Section Division IV poll, is 5-0 and coming off sweeps last week over Valley Christian and Tuesday over defending Division IV-A section champion Brentwood.

Marymount has been led by junior outside hitter Christina Hinds, senior middle blocker Cassie Bryant and sophomore setter Haley Jorgensborg.

Sacred Heart, ranked second in Division IV, is also 5-0.

*

Cross-country teams from Long Beach Poly, Anaheim Esperanza and Anaheim Katella will participate Saturday in the Great American Cross-Country Festival in Charlotte, N.C.

The invitational features 10 of the top 20 boys’ teams and nine of the top 15 girls’ teams in the nation, according to rankings by Harrier magazine.

Locally, the Bellarmine-Jefferson Invitational will be run Saturday at Griffith Park.

The event features some of the top teams and individuals in the Southern and City Sections, including the defending City champion Belmont boys’ team.

Senior Valerie Flores of San Pedro, the defending City girls’ champion who finished sixth in the state, is among the participants.

*

Alhambra Keppel’s football team not only beat Westminster La Quinta, 72-0, last Friday, the Aztecs also eclipsed the 58 points they scored all of last season.

Senior running back Jerry Diaz rushed for four touchdowns and returned an interception for another touchdown for Keppel (1-1).