He Finds a New Home at Marina

Steve Klosterman might be considered a rarity these days, a transfer without turmoil, a school-swapper who didn’t leave behind a trail of miffed teammates and scarlet-cheeked coaches.

His high-profile move to Huntington Beach Marina High was picked up by the transfer radar and didn’t sound any alarms.

He left Bellflower St. John Bosco after a successful sophomore season for two reasons: He didn’t like that the school was all boys and he had friends at Marina with whom he played volleyball during club season.

One of only two sophomores on the All-Southern Section team last season, the 6-foot-6 opposite hitter has quickly adapted to his new school.

“At Marina, everyone knows everyone ... and there’s girls too,” he said.

Marina has adapted to him as well.

The Vikings defeated highly touted La Costa Canyon in a four-game match March 5 and threw a scare into Manhattan Beach Mira Costa on Tuesday, losing in four games.

The Vikings (6-2) haven’t completely jelled--they were only average at the San Diego tournament Saturday--but they appear to be on their way to a surprise season.

“What you usually think is, this is too good to be true,” Marina Athletic Director Paul Renfrow said. “Sometimes we benefit from [transfers] and sometimes we don’t. This one’s been kind of nice. Steve’s a good kid and he’s fitting in well here.”

St. John Bosco hasn’t collapsed without Klosterman. With 6-6 middle blocker Kevin Cape, who has signed with Long Beach State, and hard-hitting outside hitter Paul Spittle, the Braves won the Redondo tournament and defeated Cerritos Valley Christian and Lakewood in nonleague matches.

“In some respects, you wonder what it would be like with him on the team,” St. John Bosco Coach Randy Totorp said. “You never like to lose somebody with that kind of potential, but I think he is enjoying himself more now.

“It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision. Steven and the school and I talked about it a lot. Overall, he wasn’t completely happy. At the same time, there was another school where he had great friends. It really ended up being a good thing for him and based on the results this year, it’s turned out not to be a bad thing for us either.”

Although Marina lost to Mira Costa, 15-11, 14-16, 17-15, 15-12, it was the type of match Klosterman hopes to get used to at Marina.

“They beat us this time, but maybe we’ll see them down the road in the playoffs,” he said. “It was a fun one.”

Strong switch: By George, the position change has worked.

Paul George, a setter last season at Chatsworth, has moved seamlessly to opposite hitter, where he has excelled for the Chancellors (2-0).

George, a 6-5 senior, had 21 kills in a sweep of Monroe on Monday and has the Chancellors looking like legitimate contenders for their first City Section title since 1989.

“Paul’s too big and too dominant not to let him hit,” Chatsworth Coach Greg Saltzberg said. “And he still has the best hands [for setting] on the court.”

Mustang might: Mira Costa (3-0) defeated Loyola and Marina in four games, but Coach Mike Cook isn’t quite satisfied.

“I’m still concerned about us,” he said. “Our young kids have to get a little bit older. They’ve got to keep getting better so we can win the brass ring at the end of May.”