Harvard-Westlake Has Its Day, Wins State Title With Sweep of Los Gatos

The headmaster knows how to fire up the troops.

On the first day of school at Harvard-Westlake High, Thomas Hudnut approached two senior volleyball players and asked them if they wanted a day off.

Hudnut promised them one--and the rest of the school--if they won a state championship.

It’s safe to call the volleyball players the most popular people on campus.

Harvard-Westlake won the state Division III title with a 15-7, 15-8, 15-7 victory over Los Gatos on Saturday at Cypress College.

It was a triumphant end to a season that began on Aug. 1, the first day the Wolverines were allowed to practice in preparation for the Iolani tournament in Hawaii.

“It was a long road,” Coach Jess Quiroz said. “These girls just played like crazy.”

The road included a Mission League championship, a Southern Section Division III-AA title, and victories at the Iolani and San Marcos tournaments.

The road ended nearly five years to the day after the Wolverines’ last Division III title.

“This has definitely been the goal for a long, long time,” said senior Anna Nesser, who had six kills. “We have always been talking about it.”

Courtney Schultz had 18 kills and Karalyn Kuchenbecker added 13 for the Wolverines (27-2), who had no trouble with Los Gatos (24-10).

The Wolverines owned a 10-3 lead in the first game and took a 6-1 lead in the second on the strength of seven kills and a block by Schultz. They took another 10-3 advantage in the third game and won the match on a kill by Nesser.

Los Gatos advanced through the tougher Northern Regional, which housed five of the top six ranked teams in Division III. But the top-ranked team, Harvard-Westlake, was too much for the Wildcats.

“I think we were just a little overwhelmed with the whole environment,” said Los Gatos Coach Joe Ripp, who received 12 kills from Lauren Rinehart.

Harvard-Westlake did not lose a game in four state playoff matches and never allowed more than eight points in a game.

Schultz, Kuchenbecker and Terbrie Taylor (nine kills) are juniors, leaving Harvard-Westlake among the favorites to win a state championship next season.

“I hope so,” Kuchenbecker said. “I can’t say right now because we’re losing some seniors, but it would be great.”

Nesser, one of the players approached by Hudnut on the opening day of school, divulged what she’ll do on her day off.

“Sleep,” she said.

And dream the dreams of a winning team.