Poll Finally Notices Eagles’ Fall from Lofty Perch

It’s not uncommon for first-year coaches to take their lumps. Just ask Calvary Chapel’s Paul Woo.

Woo and the Eagles are struggling, but the champion- ship luster lingers. The Eagles (1-11) were ranked sixth in the Southern Section Division IV-A poll last week, thanks in part to the Division IV-A title they won last season. They didn’t fall out of the poll until this week.

“We’ve been getting ripped by everybody, but [we were] still ranked,” Woo said with a laugh. “It’s like, ‘What are you guys thinking? Haven’t you seen any of our scores?’ This is a rebuilding year for us. There’s no way we’re a top-10 team.”

Calvary Chapel has one returning starter, Brynne Baird, and only one other player with varsity experience, Gina Bartolomeo. Her sister Lara, a freshman, is the starting setter.

Since at-large playoff teams--ones that don’t finish in the top half of their leagues--need a .500 record to be eligible for the postseason, Woo is already looking forward to next season.

“We’re young and we’ll have almost everyone back next year,” he said. “The kids have a good attitude.”

That’s what Santa Margarita and its first-year coach, John Hawks, are trying to focus on.

Winners of four consecutive section titles and a state Division II championship in 1999, the Eagles will miss the 2000 playoffs. Although ranked fifth in Division II-AA, Santa Margarita has a 6-12 record and can’t qualify as an at-large entry.

RANKINGS, SCHMANKINGS

There will be more head-scratching after the release of this week’s polls.

Huntington Beach, which is tied for first with Esperanza in the tough Sunset League, fell to No. 10 in Division I-A.

The Oilers are ranked behind such teams as No. 6 Newport Harbor, the second-place team in the Sea View League, No. 8 Sunny Hills, second place in the Freeway League, and No. 4 Foothill, first place in the Century League.

Huntington Beach is ranked fourth, ahead of each of those teams, in the Orange County Sportswriters’ poll.

SUNSET SHARING

Huntington Beach moved into prime position to tie Esperanza for the Sunset League title after the Oilers beat the Aztecs in four games last week. Esperanza won the teams’ first meeting and each team has only one loss in league.

Huntington Beach Coach Rocky Ciarelli is optimistic heading into the final week of the regular season and the playoffs, though his team isn’t completely healthy.

Turi Wilson, an All-Sunset League selection last season, has returned from shoulder surgery early but she is far from 100%. Still, her impact goes beyond her hitting ability.

“I think she’s one of the best passers and defensive players in the county,” Ciarelli said. “At this level, you live off other teams’ mistakes and if you don’t make many, you will do all right. She helps us there.”

Middle blocker Serena Bountour, who Ciarelli said is hitting .450, has stepped up as the team’s top attacker.

“When we don’t pass, we don’t have someone we can just go to to put it away,” Ciarelli said. “But this team actually reminds me of our [Division II 1996] state championship team. I don’t think this team is as good, but we play good defense and have balance.”

LOOKING AHEAD

The only league-title showdown this week is in the Orange League Wednesday, when defending champion Valencia plays at Western. The Pioneers’ only loss this season came against Valencia.

The week’s best match could be Friday when neighborhood rivals Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar meet.

Newport Harbor, ranked eighth in the county and led by Taylor Govaars and Liz Lord, plays at seventh-ranked Corona del Mar and setter Jacqueline Becker at 5 p.m. Friday.

SOUTHERN SECTION POLLS

Division I-AA--1. Long Beach Poly, 2. San Clemente, 3. Upland, 4. Long Beach Wilson. 5. El Toro. Others: 10. Los Alamitos.

Division I-A--1. Mater Dei, 2. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, 3. Irvine, 4. Foothill, 5. Simi Valley Royal. Others: 6. Newport Harbor, 7. El Dorado, 8. Sunny Hills, 10. Huntington Beach.

Division II-AA--1. North Torrance, 2. South Torrance, 3. Santa Barbara, 4. Santa Barbara San Marcos, 5. Santa Margarita. Others: 7. Cypress, 9. Valencia, 10. El Modena.

Division II-A--1. Lakewood St. Joseph, 2. La Habra, 3. Covina South Hills, 4. Atascadero, 5. La Puente Bishop Amat. Others: 8. Laguna Hills, 10. Pacifica.

Division III-AA--1. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, 2. Torrance Bishop Montgomery, 3. Corona del Mar, 4. La Canada, 5. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Others: 9. Rosary.

Division IV-AA--1. L.A. Marymount, 2. Laguna Beach, 3. Thousand Oaks La Reina, 4. Cerritos Whitney, 5. L.A. Notre Dame Academy. Others: 10. Orange Lutheran.

Division IV-A--1. San Pedro Mary Star of the Sea, 2. Sun Valley Village Christian, 3. L.A. Marlborough, 4. Whittier Christian, 5. Sierra Madre Maranatha.

Division V-AA--1. St. Margaret’s, 2. Pasadena Poly, 3. Palos Verdes Chadwick, 4. Calabasas Viewpoint, 5. Carpinteria Cate.

Division V-A--1. Hemet Baptist Christian, 2. Santa Monica Lighthouse Christian, 3. Hesperia Christian, 4. Liberty Christian, 5. Santa Clarita Christian.

If you have an item or idea for the girls’ volleyball report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at: mike.itagaki@latimes.com

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GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School (League) Rec. 1. San Clemente (South Coast) 12-0 2. Mater Dei (Serra) 16-1 3. Irvine (Sea View) 11-1 4. Huntington Beach (Sunset) 13-3 5. Laguna Beach (Pacific Coast) 11-5 6. Esperanza (Sunset) 10-4 7. Corona del Mar (Pacific Coast) 10-7 8. Newport Harbor (Sea View) 12-9 9. La Habra (Freeway) 14-2 10. El Toro (South Coast) 10-4

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