DAVIS VOLLEYBALL FESTIVAL: SANTA MONICA RALLIES AFTER LOSS.

Byline: Lauren Gustus Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - The Santa Monica Beach Club's top 18-and under girls' volleyball team began its second day at the Davis Festival in dubious fashion but rallied to remain seeded seventh and assured of a top-eight finish.

In its first game of the day, SMBC was upset by the lowest seed in its bracket, No. 33-ranked Texas Juniors, 15-25, 25-14, 15-13. SMBC lost the first eight points of the second game and struggled to recover its confidence.

``The only thing we took from that game is that we hated to lose,'' said middle blocker Colette Ramirez, who played for Hart of Newhall and will play at Virginia Tech in the fall.

SMBC overcame the upset, defeating No. 7 seed Empire Adidas of Santa Rosa 25-17, 18-25, 15-11.

Santa Monica relied on kills from Leslie Smith, who graduates from Hart this year, and Jill Davis, who will be a senior at Sacred Heart.

Coach Turhan Douglas, men's volleyball coach at USC, was happy with his team's overall play.

``(Empire) just outplayed us,'' Douglas said. ``(The girls) lost a little confidence, but we stayed steady.''

Santa Monica won its final match against No. 27-ranked Saddleback (Balboa Island) 20-25, 25-15, 15-7.

--Unbeaten: Sports Shack of Beverly Hills is boring, but boring isn't always bad. In two days of competition, it has yet to lose a game at the Davis Festival.

In what has so far been an uneventful stay, Sports Shack at least encountered better talent against higher-seeded teams in its second day of competition.

``The teams are more competitive,'' said Ashley Trine, who graduated from Chaminade of West Hills and will play at Brown University. ``We're seeing some better volleyball.''

Sports Shack maintained its No. 3 seed with confident and commanding volleyball.

It beat No. 17 Cowlitz of Longview, Wash., 25-20, 25-11 and No. 23 Club Pacific Blue of San Diego 25-9, 25-18. Sports Shack routed No. 37 Top Gun Blue of Los Angeles in its last match of the day 25-15, 25-17.

``My team has raised its level,'' said coach Tim Jensen. ``It's easier to play against better teams because the girls can find a better rhythm.''

--Front and center: All area teams have made it to volleyball's equivalent of center court. Sports Shack, SMBC, Synergy and Thunder have been guests at the top four courts in the convention center.

Moms and dads are happy because they can camp out in the bleachers for the day and don't have to worry about volleyballs from other courts grazing their heads.

Sports Shack and SMBC have support from their younger counterparts with 16-and-under and the 12-and-under cheering for their respective teams.