BOYS' VOLLEYBALL: NATIONAL TITLE IN SIGHT.

Byline: SEAN CEGLINSKY Staff Writer

Santa Monica Beach Club and Santa Clarita Synergy both had the same goal entering the U.S. Junior Olympic Boys' Volleyball Championships: Winning the national title in the 18-under Open Division.

Both clubs moved a step closer to the accomplishment Friday at the Minneapolis Convention Center by finishing in the top two in their three- team qualifying pools, putting them in today's Gold Division playoffs.

SMBC, featuring nine area players, extended its winning streak to seven in a row with victories over Northern California's Diablo (25-17, 25-22) and Huntington Beach's Surf City (21-25, 26-24, 17-15).

``Basically, we're here to win. We want to go all the way,'' said SMBC's Cole Reinholm, a Thousand Oaks graduate who plans to play at UC Irvine in the fall.

``We came into this thing hopeful and now we're starting to realize that we can win it all.''

Synergy, a former 16-under national champion and last year's third-place finisher in the 17-under division, had to work a little harder after losing to San Diego's Seaside, 27-25, 25-17, bouncing back with a 25-22, 25-21 victory over Redondo Beach's Southern California Volleyball Club.

``We've played some tough matches and were battled-tested,'' Synergy coach Walt Ker said. ``There`s a lot of parity in the tournament this year but we're focused. We know what we have to do.''

Synergy will play long-time nemesis Balboa Bay Quicksilver of Newport Beach, a group it has lost its past 12 meetings against.

``This is a must-win situation,'' Ker said. ``We know them well. They're a very, very good team. As a matter of fact, they're probably the top team in Southern California. We're ready for the challenge.''

While Synergy faces Balboa Bay at 9 a.m. PDT, SMBC will play Pennsylvania's Yorktowne in its quarterfinal match on an adjacent court.

Should both teams win, they would meet in the semifinals at 11 a.m. PDT. The championship is scheduled for 3 p.m.

SMBC and Synergy both advanced to the Gold quarterfinals in the 16-under Open Division as well.

Synergy will play Puerto Rico's Torrimar at 8 a.m. PDT and SMBC will play Westminster's LBC Black at the same time. The teams could meet in the final at 1 p.m.

Erik Boal contributed

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