Hawaiian Title Sets Up Season for Wolverines

The Southern Section girls’ volleyball season has not begun yet North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake High has already won a championship.

It wasn’t an honorary title, as in forget the regular season, let’s hand them the trophy now, a concession to the Wolverines’ prowess.

Harvard-Westlake won the prestigious preseason Iolani tournament almost three weeks ago in Hawaii, defeating quality teams from the Southland along the way and affirming its No. 3 ranking in a national poll.

Tournament titles--preseason, midseason or postseason--have been part of Harvard-Westlake’s pedigree for years.

That trend isn’t expected to end this season.

The Wolverines went 26-2 last season and have one of the top players in the nation--middle blocker Courtney Schultz, who has been on college recruiters’ radar since her freshman year. Schultz, 6 feet 2, committed to Stanford in July, taking care of one of the hardest parts of her senior season.

She was the main reason Harvard-Westlake defeated Manhattan Beach Mira Costa and Santa Ana Mater Dei in Hawaii.

“When things get tough, it becomes the Courtney show,” Harvard-Westlake Coach Jess Quiroz said. “She can take over.”

Schultz will be joined by 5-11 outside hitter Karalyn Kuchenbecker, always a threat with a strong arm swing, and 6-2 middle blocker Terbrie Taylor, who has improved dramatically.

There is also height and skill at setter with 6-0 junior Alexandra Dunphy, the daughter of Pepperdine men’s coach Marv Dunphy.

But Harvard-Westlake, a school of 1,100 students, is stuck in Division III-A because of a Southern Section rule that forbids teams from moving out of their enrollment-based divisions.

“I wish we could play some of those Division I and II schools [in playoffs], but there’s nothing we can do about the school size,” said Schultz, pointing out that the Wolverines play upper-echelon tournaments in Las Vegas and Orange County. “We still have competition.”

The Wolverines met little resistance in the state playoffs last season, sweeping four Division III matches as they won their first state championship since 1995. They also won Southern Section Division III-AA and Mission League titles.

The Wolverines will continue to win if they don’t look too far down the road.

“No pressure,” Quiroz said. “Win league first. Then let’s go after [Southern Section]. Then let’s go after state. It really comes down to let’s have some fun out there.”

Palisades and Los Angeles University have dominated the City Section since it began holding girls’ volleyball playoffs in 1973, but this could be Chatsworth’s year.

Linda Wang, a 6-1 senior middle blocker and an All-City selection last season, has added strong passing skills to her superior play at the net.

Four-year starter Carlie Allison is a steady influence at setter and versatile 6-0 senior Heather Rizzo can play middle blocker or outside hitter for the Chancellors, who have five returning starters from the team that lost to Sylmar in the championship in November.

“This team is pretty much intact and has been through playoffs two years solid,” Chatsworth Coach Bud Dow said. “On offense, we’re stronger than last year, and on defense, we’re stronger.”

Sylmar went 17-0 last season and did not lose a game in match play, but the Spartans lost Barbara Smiley and Stephanie Cisneros, City co-players of the year.

Outside hitter Sally Teague and middle blocker Katrina Delaney are back for the Spartans, who became the second Valley team to win an upper-division City title.

Chatsworth won in 1994.

“We’re going to have targets on our backs,” Sylmar Coach Bob Thomson said. “We have to match our opponents’ energy and enthusiasm. We’re not going to dominate this year.”

Venice, a young team last season that had its moments, could also contend for the championship.

*

Top players to watch on teams not ranked by The Times:

Irvine middle blocker Olivia Waldowski has committed to Nebraska .... Upland could make a run at the Division I-AA title with 6-1 opposite hitter Robin Miramontes, who has committed to Long Beach State ....

Corona del Mar senior Jacqueline Becker is one of the top setters in the Southland ....Nevena Siljegovic is talented setter and outside hitter for Simi Valley Royal ....

Seniors Noelle Quinn and Nicole Read of Torrance Bishop Montgomery hope to give Harvard-Westlake a scare in Division III-A ....Laguna Beach is led by 6-1 middle blockers Brittany Wood and Sarah Salem .... Long Beach Wilson outside hitter Cynthia Barboza is one of the top freshmen in the nation ....

Susie Boogaard, a 6-2 middle blocker for Cerritos Valley Christian, has committed to Hawaii ....

Placentia El Dorado outside hitter Kristen Fernandez can hit with the best....Setter and outside hitter Brenn Larson is a multitalented senior for Westlake Village Westlake.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

A look at the top 10 high school programs in the Southland

1. North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake (SS-Mission) Started season strong by winning Iolani tournament in Hawaii.

2. Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (SS-Bay) Teryn Spragg and setter Keegan Featherstone have the Mustangs thinking about an 11th section title.

3. Santa Ana Mater Dei (SS-Serra) Six-footers in abundance with Whitney Pavlik, Kim King and Pepperdine-bound Breegan Mulligan.

4. San Clemente (SS-South Coast) Middle blocker Megan Blackshire and outside hitter Katy Daly could ultimately move Tritons to top of poll.

5. Los Angeles Marymount (SS-Sunshine) Favored to defend state Division IV championship with UCLA-bound setter Haley Jorgensborg.

6. Anaheim Esperanza (SS-Sunset) Five starters return, including hard-hitting 5-10 outside hitter Kristy Chester.

7. Long Beach Poly (SS-Moore) Jennifer Randall and Cynthia Buggs try to pick up for setter Drew Robertson, now at Northwestern.

8. Lake Forest El Toro (SS-South Coast) Talented and tall with 6-1 middle blocker Krista Kimble and hitters Kim Wilson and Jennifer Hampton.

9. Newport Beach Newport Harbor (SS-Sea View) Young last season but growing up quickly with Christine Woller, who has committed to UC Irvine.

10. Lakewood St. Joseph (SS-Serra) Outside hitter Heather Laudato and middle blocker Jennifer Daniels return for defensive-minded Jesters.