FOR BAXTER, NO HOLDING BACK; INTENSITY A KEY TO SETTER'S SUCCESS.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

It was about 1 a.m. Thursday and Royal High School volleyball setter John Baxter sat watching videotape of the Highlanders' next opponent.

Hours before, Baxter had helped his team beat Capistrano Valley in the Southern Section Division I semifinal and earn a spot in tonight's 7 p.m. final against Esperanza at Cypress College.

Coach Bob Ferguson, who was at Baxter's house because it was the player's camera that was used to videotape the Esperanza match, told Baxter to go to sleep.

He refused.

``He said, `I've got to see where the block is. Just a little bit longer,' '' Ferguson said ``He has so much energy and so much spunk.''

Baxter rarely does anything halfway. After almost being cut as a freshman and hardly playing, Baxter threw himself into the sport. He played club ball and went to camps.

His intensity and talent have enabled him to break all of the school's setting records, earn a partial scholarship to Cal State Northridge and get his team in the Division I final for the first time.

He does things on his terms. Once, he appeared in the Doo-Dah Parade as the setter in the Mobile Precision Volleyball Team - but only after the group passed the television cameras.

``I like having every play going through me first,'' he said. ``I love to run an offense.''

Baxter said he gets his ability from his father, John Sr., who was a middle blocker on Northridge's 1976 Division II state championship team. His intensity comes from his mother, Karen.

``He likes to know what's going on,'' Karen Baxter said. ``If the phone rings and we hang up, he wants to know who was that, what did they want, why did they want that.''

He also loves the thrill of competition. Never does a match go by that Baxter doesn't lose his voice or ``sweat like a pig,'' teammate Ryan Denihan said.

Sometimes, Baxter loses so much in sweat that he starts cramping during matches and shaking if he doesn't eat something within an hour after a match or tournament.

``I was drinking Coke and I was cramping up,'' he said. ``I didn't understand Coke would (constrict blood vessels).''

The quarterfinal against Thousand Oaks was the first time Baxter's cramps forced him out of the match. So Ferguson had him eliminate the soda and hamburgers for two bananas a day. Baxter didn't have to leave against Capistrano Valley.

Denihan recalled Tuesday's practice, in which Ferguson, in an attempt to keep the contest between the starters and substitutes even, called a lift on Baxter.

``Baxter starts yelling at him, `You've got to be kidding! What are you thinking?' '' Denihan said. ``Ferguson gives him a yellow (warning card). John kept on yelling. Ferguson gave him a red (penalty card).''

Denihan walked over to Baxter and said, ``You know he's joking.''

Baxter's response: ``I don't care.''

``He's so intense out there,'' Denihan said. ``Even on the ugliest play, he gets so fired up. He plays his heart out.''

ROYAL vs. ESPERANZA

What: Southern Section Division I boys' volleyball final.

Start: 7 p.m. at Cypress College.

Royal (20-0) update: This is the first Division I final for the eight-time Marmonte League champion Highlanders. They previously have won two titles at both the Division III and Division II levels. This also is the third meeting in the finals between the two teams. Royal won the Division II title in 1992 and lost in 1993. . . . So what if the senior prom is at the same time at the Gene Autry Museum? The way second-seeded Royal played in Wednesday's semifinal win over Capistrano Valley, the players might get there in time. The general consensus was the 15-9, 15-11, 15-3 victory was the best they have played this season. Everyone was hitting, with four hitters getting at least nine kills each. The blocking was on, too - 14 stuffs. At the same time, no one is saying they're just happy to be there. Keys to the match: continue to play as intense as in the semifinal and watch out for middle blocker Ryan Denihan. Denihan's usual quick set has been scrapped in favor of a higher one that gives him time to survey the scene and find a place to hit the ball. He had been quiet in the playoffs, but that new set earned him 11 kills Wednesday.

Esperanza (19-1) update: The fourth-seeded Aztecs won the Sunset League with an undefeated record. Their only loss was to Santa Margarita, which is in the Division II final. This team presents Royal with a stiff challenge. Unlike Capistrano Valley, Esperanza has height and ability at all the hitting positions. Leading the way is 6-foot-4 opposite hitter Jonathan Alleman, bound for Brigham Young University. He had 35 kills in Wednesday's five-game win against Mira Costa despite pulling a hamstring. Royal won't be able to focus its block on him because there's also 6-3 outside hitters Jason Dillard and Danny Herrington and 6-5 middle blockers Kyle Anderson and Chris Willardson. Setter Justin Dalton is just 5-11 but runs a capable offense.

CAPTION(S):

Box

Box: ROYAL vs. ESPERANZA (see text)