FALL SPORTS NOTEBOOK: SECOND SEASON BEGINS : AGOURA, ROYAL HAVE HIGH HOPES.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

Playoff time is here. Many sports ended their regular season this week, with postseason contests beginning as early as Tuesday.

The Agoura boys' water polo team prepared for the playoffs with a nonleague game Tuesday against fellow Division IV top-10 team Malibu. The Chargers scored with a minute left and clinched the 13-12 victory when the Sharks' final shot sailed over the goal.

Agoura advanced to the quarterfinals last season and is aiming higher this year.

``We've seen some of the teams in the top 10 and we've beat some of them,'' coach Jason Rosenthal said. ``We just need to play our game and we'll be all right. We just need to protect the ball and take care of it at all times, and put it in when we need to.''

Losing the league title to Agoura could help Royal (16-9, 7-2) in the long run.

``It made us want to not just win, but really dominate everybody we play the rest of our games,'' senior Ryan Apperson said.

The Highlanders did just that as they secured second place with a 16-4 win at Newbury Park on Monday. The Panthers, who are headed to the playoffs after winning just two league games last year, were looking for a second-place tie but couldn't come close to containing the Highlanders.

``We've definitely come a ways since the first Agoura loss,'' Royal coach Steve Snyder said.

``The guys know since they won't win the league title, the way to prove themselves is to show what they can do in playoffs.''

Apperson heads the rejuvenated Highlanders attack as he attempts to go out on a positive note. His favorite move against the Panthers was one in which he waited in front of the goal and dropped the ball over the goalie's head to lead Royal with five goals.

Royal finished the regular season with a 7-4 win against Westlake on Wednesday.

Malibu took the Frontier League title for a fifth straight year. Calabasas was eliminated from the league tournament with an opening-round loss to Cate.

Water polo and girls' tennis playoff matchups will be announced Monday. Girls' volleyball pairings are scheduled to be released Sunday.

Moral victory: After entering the season with high hopes, the Westlake boys' water polo team missed a playoff berth again this year and isn't likely to impress many with its record (1-6 in league entering Friday's game). The Warriors, however, took a significant step. Led by Elliot Myhre, Dave Stelle and the goaltending of Zach Shulerr, Westlake moved out of last place in the Marmonte League. The Warriors beat Thousand Oaks for their first league win and had a chance to earn another victory Friday with the season finale against the Lancers. Westlake went winless last season, going 0-12, 0-8.

Playoff fever: Karen Klee isn't worried about her team's ability to play volleyball. The Westlake High coach is more concerned about keeping the Warriors healthy.

Of Westlake's 11 players, four were sick at the beginning of the week.

``If I have enough healthy players, we'll be all right,'' Klee said.

Royal took over Westlake's spot as the Marmonte League's dominant team, but the Warriors were still good enough to finish second and earn a No. 5 ranking in this week's Division II-AA poll.

``They're a good team because they all play together well,'' Klee said. ``It's a different person stepping up each time. It's a fun team because you never know who it's going to be.''

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Photo

PHOTO Fresh from winning a league title, Dusty Sloan and his teammates aim

for the water polo playoffs.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News