Close-ups

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

RACHAEL MOSS

Sr., Los Alamitos

* Then: Looking to participate in a more team-oriented endeavor than tennis, which she played on the U.S. Tennis Assn. junior circuit for several years, Moss took up volleyball in high school, playing both sports as a freshman. She earned Sunset League most valuable player and All-Southern Section first-team honors last season and helped Los Alamitos win the Division I-AA title in her freshman and junior years and the state Division I championship in 2003.

* Now: The 5-foot-10 outside hitter is considered somewhat undersized for her position at the college level, but her athleticism, sound technique and tenacity make Moss one of the top volleyball prospects in the nation. She has committed to Duke. She tops Los Alamitos (6-0) with an average of 9.2 kills and 8.0 digs. Moss had 17 kills and 12 digs Wednesday night in a 25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 25-18 victory over Redondo in the championship match of the Cerritos Gahr tournament. Next up is the Las Vegas Durango tournament that begins today.

* Quote: “I like the fact that people at school treat volleyball like football games, like something to do after school,” she said. “It’s all about the adrenaline.”

-- Lauren Peterson

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BOYS’ WATER POLO

TYLER McMANIGAL

Jr., Santa Barbara

* Then: As a 120-pound freshman, McManigal’s varsity debut was inauspicious. Starting in place of injured goalkeeper Jonny Gaspartis, the Southern Section Division IV co-player of the year last season, McManigal allowed 21 goals against Anaheim Servite. “It was baptism by fire,” Coach Mark Walsh said. McManigal started nine other games his freshman season, helping the Dons win six before returning to the junior varsity last season.

* Now: With Gaspartis having graduated, the reins return to McManigal and he’s taken control for the Dons, ranked No. 5 in Division IV. With no senior contributors, McManigal steps up to lead Santa Barbara (3-0) into games tonight at Servite and Saturday morning at Anaheim Esperanza, both ranked among the top three in Division II. McManigal had 13 saves Saturday in a 9-8 sudden-death victory over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, ranked fourth in Division III.

* Quote: “He’s our captain now,” Walsh said. “We put a lot of pressure on him to make saves and make passes. He’s one of our main strengths this year.”

-- Dan Arritt

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GIRLS’ GOLF

NARA KIM

Fr., Diamond Bar

* Then: Rising through the junior golf scene over the last year, Kim has had a significant breakthrough in national tournaments during the last two months. She placed ninth in an American Junior Golf Assn. tournament on July 28 in Lompoc and was second at an AJGA tournament the next week in Temecula, where she shot 76-79-72 -- 227.

* Now: Kim is one of four freshmen to join the Brahmas this season and help to make the second-year program a top-tier squad. At 5-10, she has no problem standing out, but her play has stood out too. She has been the medalist in both of her matches this season and finished second in the Ayala tournament. Her two-over 38 Tuesday helped Diamond Bar shoot a school-record 219. Tiffany Koyano, Elizabeth Torrecillas and Zhoe Zoe are the other freshmen who joined juniors Alice Kim and Hye-Min Kim (none of the Kims are related). Each regularly shoots in the 40s.

* Quote: “I think we’ll let her stick with golf,” said Coach Tony McCabe, also the girls’ basketball coach at Diamond Bar for the last seven years, when asked if he would try to recruit Kim for the basketball team. “I’m not sure if she can catch the ball.”

-- Peter Yoon