CHATTER: CV'S SO QUALIFIES FOR 2008 OLYMPIC TRIALS.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

Yumi So hoped to get her first qualifying time for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials by the end of the year, possibly by summer's conclusion if everything fell into place on the right day.

That day was Friday, and no one was more surprised by the result than So.

The Crescenta Valley High of La Crescenta sophomore won the consolation finals in the women's 200-meter butterfly at the 13th annual Janet Evans Invitational in 2 minutes, 16.18 seconds, more than a half-second under the Olympic Trials qualifying standard.

``I thought I could get it, but I didn't know it was going to be (Friday),'' said the 15-year-old So, who clocked 2:17.89 on May 28 at the Speedo Grand Challenge in Irvine, the last time she raced against a similar field in the event.

``My goal now is to keep dropping my time.''

So, who switched from Crescenta Canada YMCA to Swim Pasadena two weeks ago, became the third area standout in the past year to secure a berth at the Olympic Trials in Oklahoma, joining C.V. teammate Sara Sun (800 freestyle) and Crespi of Encino graduate Patrick Simpkins (200 butterfly).

So has decided not to compete in the ConocoPhillips National Championships and Speedo Junior Nationals in August, in order to train with the Korean national team.

The U.S. men's water polo national team begins competition Wednesday in the FINA World League semifinals at the USA Water Polo National Training Center in Los Alamitos.

The U.S., featuring Glendale graduate Kevin Witt and Harvard-Westlake of Studio City alum Peter Hudnut, needs to finish among the top three in the six-team event to advance to the Super Finals, scheduled for Aug.2-6 in Greece.

UCLA's Albert Garcia, Chay Lapin and Adam Wright, USC's J.W. Krumpholz, and Pepperdine's Merrill Moses and Jesse Smith also compete for the U.S., which swept through preliminary play in Canada as a tune-up for this week's event.

Harvard-Westlake of Studio City graduate Karina Silvester and Oaks Christian of Westlake Village junior Nolan Koon lead a group of 10 area swimmers who were selected to Southern California's Western Zone team.

Koon, representing Conejo Simi Aquatics, and the Princeton- bound Silvester (Team Santa Monica) -- a member of last year's zone team -- will try to lead Southern California to its fourth consecutive title at the competition, which is scheduled for Aug. 8-12 at Central High in Fresno.

Asher Garcia, Bob Hwang and K.T. Livingstone, along with coach Michael Bechtholdt, will be representing Canyons Aquatics on Southern California's roster.

Pacific Palisades Volleyball Club, featuring four area standouts, won the 17-under Open Division boys' title at the U.S. Junior Olympics in Minnesota.

Coached by Cal State Northridge's Jeff Campbell, Palisades capped an undefeated tournament run with a 20-25, 25-20, 17-15 victory over Honolulu's Outrigger Canoe Club.

Harvard-Westlake's Thomas McAndrews -- an all-tournament honoree -- fellow Wolverines Sean Dennis and Clark Porter, and Viewpoint of Calabasas' Matt Talamantes were instrumental in Palisades' success, which included a 20-25, 25-22, 22-20 semifinal victory over Costa Mesa's Balboa Bay Quicksilver.

Sara Sun was among the list of finalists for Cal-Hi Sports' Girls' State Athlete of the Year, won by Carondelet of Concord basketball and water polo standout Jayne Appel.

Valencia softball pitcher Jordan Taylor was a finalist for the state's top female junior, an award that went to Long Beach Wilson track standout Ebony Collins.

Virginia's women's team has the top recruiting class in the country, according to the Tennis Recruiting Network, in large part because of the signing of Calabasas graduate Kristen McVitty.

The Cavaliers, with blue-chip prospects McVitty and Jennifer Stevens (Miami), beat out William & Mary and Notre Dame for the top spot. Virginia has also signed Brentwood graduate Austin Hansen, along with Jessica Preeg (Naples, Fla.) and Brintney Larson (Orchard Park, N.Y.).

[e-mail]

[phone]