CHATTER: COACH FINDS TRUE CALLING.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

It's not uncommon for a coach to quit to spend more time with his family. But Tim Jensen did the opposite.

Jensen, who quit as Campbell Hall's boys' volleyball coach after last season to take a job in advertising, is back for his ninth season with the Vikings.

He left to buy and sell time in various media for his company's products but found the work unfulfilling and time consuming. So he quit.

``I missed the kids and teaching and spending time with my family,'' Jensen said. ``I'm meant to be around kids and teach and coach.''

He's also back at school to earn more advanced degrees and doesn't regret his short stint in the corporate world.

Jensen has to rebuild the Vikings, who lost most of their talent, including middle blocker Larry Cole, who's redshirting at UCLA. . . .

Chaminade's boys' basketball team has luck on its side. Its playoff division has just eight teams, so teams play once a week.

That's good news for Scott Borchart. He had bronchitis and scored just six points in Friday's victory over Estancia. Now, he's got the week to get healthy. . . .

Hart midfielder Erin Misaki was named to the Parade All-American team. Misaki returned from the Adidas Cup and will join her teammates for the remainder of the Southern Section playoffs.

The same goes for La Canada goalie Lauren Arase. . . .

Alemany sophomore Robert Herrick has accepted an invitation to attend an elite baseball camp at Nevada-Las Vegas in June. The event brings together the top 132 underclassmen in the country. . . .

Cleveland soccer player Brynne Blumstein was named an outstanding athlete in soccer by the West Valley Jewish Community Center. Blumstein, who recently signed with Cal State Northridge, has scored 99 goals for the Cavaliers. She helped the Los Angeles team win the gold medal in last summer's Maccabi Games in Detroit.

Don't be surprised if come baseball season, all of the East Valley League teams - Sylmar, Poly, North Hollywood and Grant - have winning records, and the Mid-Valley League teams - Monroe, Canoga Park, Reseda and Van Nuys - have losing ones. The East Valley has the talent and, according to North Hollywood coach George Vranau, went 23-0-1 last year against the Mid-Valley.

``The other side is going to be pathetically weak,'' Vranau said. . . .

Hart catcher Jon Bourg is out for the season after injuring his wrist in a snowboarding accident. It gives Brandon Montemayor and freshman Chris Giordano a chance to show their stuff.

Giordano's mother Cathy is the Hart softball coach and sisters Jeanine and Nicole play collegiately at Washington and Arizona, respectively. . . .

It was announced last week that the Big Sky Conference women's soccer champion earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Not a big deal? It is if you're trying to rebuild a program.

Cal State Northridge interim coach Allison Lee thinks it will help her recruit.

``Now, there's an ultimate goal,'' she said. ``Before, it was, `We want to have a successful season.' Then it became, `Win the Big Sky championship.' Now, it's `Play for the national championship.' That will be a great thing for the future. The exposure it will offer will be tremendous.''

The qualifier will be the winner of the conference tournament, to be held the first weekend in November at the site of the regular season champion. . . .

Gary Victor, Northridge's director of tennis, has been named the U.S. Professional Tennis Association's California Division Collegiate Coach of the Year.