Marymount Victory No Small Feat

Despite the glaring reality that they are private high schools with relatively small enrollments, North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake and Los Angeles Marymount have managed to carve quite a niche for themselves, becoming two of the top girls’ volleyball programs in the region.It made Wednesday’s nonleague match between the two more than a schedule-filler; it was a chance to claim small-school--and, to some degree, Southland--superiority.

Marymount, ranked No.3 in the region by The Times, can step forward and take a bow after defeating No.2 Harvard-Westlake, 15-4, 15-9, 12-15, 15-8, at Harvard-Westlake.

Virginia Lavanas delivered 15 kills and Liz Cvitian added 13 kills for Marymount (25-4), which took a 10-2 lead in the first game and an 11-5 lead in the second game. Setter-outside hitter Haley Jorgensborg, who has committed to UCLA, kept the offense flowing with efficiency while adding seven kills.

“We talked about it beforehand that we wanted to come out strong,” Jorgensborg said.

Harvard-Westlake (10-1) couldn’t keep up with Marymount’s quickness and became short-handed when Courtney Schultz left the match midway through the second game because of back spasms.

Schultz, who has committed to Stanford and has not played in two weeks because of the injury, had eight kills for Harvard-Westlake.

“In the middle of the first game, my back tightened up,” Schultz said. “I tried to fight it off, but I think it needs some more time.”

Karalyn Kuchenbecker had 16 kills for Harvard-Westlake, which hadn’t played a high-caliber team since winning a preseason tournament in Hawaii. The Wolverines decided not to play in the Orange County and Las Vegas tournaments in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“This is the first tough game we’ve had since August,” Coach Jess Quiroz said.

Marymount, on the other hand, has played upper-echelon teams throughout the season, defeating San Clemente and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa at the Torrey Pines tournament two weeks ago.

“Great seniors, great leadership,” Marymount Coach Cari Klein said. “We’re tough.”