La Habra’s Baum Is Tall and Talented

La Habra’s Kristina Baum is hard to miss.

After all, she’s the tallest Highlander, standing at 6 feet 2. The sophomore middle blocker is also quite talented. Just watch her powerful spikes, impressive blocks or solid passing. And there’s that emotion.

Baum isn’t shy about celebrating a great play. She’s one of the more vocal players for the Highlanders, who will play Mountain View St. Francis in the Division II girls’ volleyball state final at 5 p.m. today at Cypress College.

Baum has blossomed into a key contributor for La Habra, playing the sidekick role to USC-bound Keao Burdine in helping the Highlanders reach their first state final since they won the Division II title in 1991.

But Baum didn’t even start last season with La Habra’s varsity.

“We started Kristina on the JVs last season,” Highlander Coach Troy Abbey said. “But after two weeks, we brought her up. Then, we couldn’t keep her out of the lineup.”

Though Baum’s talent and potential are obvious, Abbey said the biggest strides she made this season have been mental ones.

“She’s been with us since she was a freshman, so sometimes we forget how young she is,” Abbey said. “She has really grown in her maturity and confidence.

“But she has a tendency to be a little cocky.”

But Baum hasn’t been able to get too big headed.

Burdine and seniors Lauren Goins and Jenny Habben are the only other freshmen Abbey ever brought up to the varsity, and those three are now seniors and help keep Baum in check.

And there’s assistant coach Missy Staley.

Staley, formerly Missy Clements, helped La Habra win consecutive state titles in 1989 and ’90 before she moved on to Cal State Northridge, where she became the school’s all-time kill leader.

“When I see Kristina, I recognize a player who, like me, has that physical ability that’s above her age,” Staley said. “She still has to mature mentally. We have to make sure that those two things don’t get totally out of whack.”

Said Baum: “I was kind of scared of her when I first met [Staley]. But she always makes it fun.”

Staley brightens when talking about Baum’s development.

“Sure, it’s extremely fun to think about the possibilities with Kristina,” Staley said. “She’s so good when she’s confident. She’s phenomenal.”

Baum had seven kills and four blocks in one game to help La Habra turn the tide in a four-game victory at Bakersfield Centennial in the second round of the state tournament.

Baum had 18 kills and six blocks in Tuesday’s four-game victory over Lakewood St. Joseph to propel the Highlanders into today’s title match.

“They’ve never been to this level of the playoffs,” Staley said. “Ten years from now, I want them to always remember that this was fun. They’ll never play again together like this, so let’s keep everything as fun as possible.”

Volleyball notes

For only the third time in the last 20 seasons, a Southern Section team will not be playing in the Division I final. Chula Vista Bonita Vista, the San Diego Section champion that defeated three-time state champion Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in the semifinals, will play Stockton St. Mary’s of the Sac-Joaquin Section in the Division I final at 7 tonight. Each is trying to win its first state title.

In Division III, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake plays Los Gatos at 1:30 p.m., and in Division IV, L.A. Marymount plays Atherton Menlo at 11 a.m. Two of the best juniors in the state lead the two Los Angeles-area teams: Harvard-Westlake middle blocker Courtney Schultz and Marymount setter Haley Jorgensborg. . . . San Diego Francis Parker plays Portola Valley Woodside Priory in the Division V final at 9 a.m.

All matches are at Cypress College. Per-session adult admission is $8, children $5. All-day passes are $10. The second session begins with the Division II final.