A Player With Staying Power

The thought of transferring tugged at Olivia Waldowski, making her wonder what else might be out there for one of the top volleyball players in California.

She wasn’t exactly restless after three years at Irvine High, but she considered spending her senior season at Santa Ana Mater Dei, which was expected to have one of the best teams in the nation.

Waldowski consulted her parents. She sifted through scenarios. In the end, she decided to return to Irvine for a simple reason.

“I wanted to be loyal,” she said.

The Vaqueros haven’t matched Mater Dei’s success--Irvine is 15-14 while the Monarchs are 23-3--but Waldowski has no regrets.

“It’s pretty much the first time I’ve ever been a leader,” Waldowski said. “I’ve had my times where I’ve gone crazy and yelled at people, but I’m learning a lot.”

Waldowski, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, committed to Nebraska before the season.

She chose the Cornhuskers, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, over Pepperdine, UCLA and USC. Herperformance this season has backed up her status as a blue-chip recruit.

“She leads us in kills every match, leads us in blocks every match, usually leads us in digs and often leads us in service aces,” Irvine Coach Mark Mednick said. “Even when times get tough and she doesn’t get good setting or good passing, she doesn’t whine about it.”

The Vaqueros are peaking as the playoffs draw near. After sub-par performances at several elite tournaments, Irvine went 6-1 at the San Marcos tournament earlier this month and got back setter Courtney DeMott from an ankle injury that sidelined her for nearly two months.

Irvine has lost in the Southern Section semifinals the last four seasons, though that could change if Waldowski keeps the Vaqueros on the rise.

*

Wolverine worries: The much-anticipated showdown between North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and L.A. Marymount might not live up to expectations.

Harvard-Westlake middle blocker Courtney Schultz missed two matches last week because of back spasms and might have to sit out Wednesday against Marymount (23-4), ranked No. 3 by The Times.

Schultz, who has committed to Stanford, is not being rushed back by the No. 2 Wolverines (9-0), who also have an important Mission League match Thursday at Flintridge Sacred Heart.

“Her body is telling her something’s wrong,” Coach Jess Quiroz said. “I don’t want her to feel pressure to come out and play. If it takes three weeks, it takes three weeks.”

Terbrie Taylor has helped hold down the middle, delivering 53 kills in 74 attempts with only one hitting error, for a .701 hitting percentage in the Wolverines’ last six matches.

*

Keeping tabs: Stanford middle blocker Tara Conrad, a former player at West Torrance, is second on the No. 4 Cardinal with 78 blocks and fourth with 107 kills.

Conrad, a 6-3 senior, had eight blocks for the Cardinal (16-2, 9-1 in Pacific 10 Conference play) in a sweep of Washington Friday and seven kills in a sweep of Washington State Saturday.

*

Sneak peek: El Toro has had a remarkable season, going 13-2 and blowing past expectations in almost every way. But the Chargers will not win their league unless they turn the tide against San Clemente Thursday.

The Chargers lost to the Tritons in four games Oct. 10, Katy Daly and Megan Blackshire leading the way for San Clemente. El Toro hosts the rematch.

THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

1. Santa Ana Mater Dei (23-3, SS--Serra)

Solidifying reputation as one of top teams in nation.

2. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (9-0, SS--Mission)

Bracing for another week without Courtney Schultz.

3. L.A. Marymount (23-4, SS--Sunshine)

Could topple Harvard-Westlake for small-school supremacy.

4. San Clemente (24-3, SS--South Coast)

Can Tritons defeat El Toro a second time?

5. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (19-5, SS--Bay)

Finished a respectable fourth in Santa Barbara tournament.

6. Long Beach Poly (17-3, SS--Moore)

Chasing fourth league title in five years.

7. Lake Forest El Toro (13-2, SS--South Coast)

Hoping to turn tables Thursday against San Clemente.

8. Lakewood St. Joseph (17-9, SS--Serra)

Record somewhat deceptive, with close losses to several top teams.

9. Esperanza (14-3, SS--Sunset)

Studying Long Beach schools (Poly, Wilson) for I-AA playoffs.

10. Newport Harbor (15-6, SS--Sea View)

Must deal with Irvine’s Olivia Waldowski tonight.