CLUB VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK: PLENTY OF SYNERGY FRESHMAN HUPP SPARKS VOLLEYBALL TEAM.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - College scouts surround the Davis Festival in Sacramento this week, looking for unsigned players that could bring success to their programs.

At 6-feet, Angela Hupp of Synergy's top 18-and-under team, which is based in Santa Clarita, might catch a look or two. But anyone who's interested will have to wait because she hasn't even started high school yet. Just 14, her skills are solid and she's got plenty of time to get better.

``We're playing pretty well considering how young we are,'' said coach Wendy Dreher.

Synergy only has one graduated senior, Julie Bolt of Saugus. The rest will be juniors and seniors in the fall, or in Hupp's case, freshmen.

--Getting the worm Thunder Volleyball Club, based in Moorpark, was happy to get an even seed at the festival because even seeds play in the afternoon.

Since his players are not early birds, coach Tuong Nguyen was relieved they didn't have to take the court at 8 a.m.

``I have all the tall kids,'' Nguyen said. ``And the blood doesn't get up to their head until the afternoon. My kids always do well in the afternoon.''

--Fast track: Synergy's 18-and-under club made quick work of its competition Monday, the first day of the Davis Festival. The festival is played at various sites across the greater Sacramento area, but Synergy is based at the convention center downtown, which is where it won all three of its matches.

The team earned the 26th seed by knocking off Asics Rainbow of Hawaii 25-20, 25-12 in its third match of the day. Synergy was confident going in.

``If we stay focused,'' said Mary Ruddick, a 6-foot-3 senior from Hart, ``We can definitely take them.''

Synergy waited until 3:30 p.m. to play its first game of the tournament. It stunned Marin, based in San Rafael, 25-3, 25-14. Synergy was led by strong service from Julie Bolt, who just graduated from Saugus, and intelligent net play by Ruddick.

``I think it was the fastest game we've had all year,'' said coach Wendy Dreher, also the women's coach at Santa Monica College.

In Synergy's second match, it easily overcame Valley Velocity Extreme of Veradale, Wash., 25-19, 25-17.

--Thunderous: Thunder Volleyball Club, which has several players from the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, including Tierra Burnley and Diva Kakonde of Valencia, also went 3-0.

Originally seeded 108, Thunder jumped to No. 28 after beating South Bay of Torrance in its last match.

Thunder pounded away at all three of its opponents Monday afternoon, using little finesse to finish off plays. According to Burnley of Valencia, the team regularly spent an hour lifting weights before practice.

It showed, as Thunder overpowered No. 214 Murphy Mustangs 25-10, 25-12 for its first victory of the tournament. It beat the Wahines of Las Vegas 25-10, 25-10 to advance to its match with No. 28 South Bay, which won in a marathon three games, 25-20, 33-35, 25-10.