GIRLS` VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: VOLLEYBALL TALENTS BACK TO THE BEACH.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

It's the deep, dark secret the area's girls' volleyball coaches don't want anyone to know.

There's not much talent this year.

``I don't want to agree at this point, but I almost have to agree,'' Harvard-Westlake coach Jess Quiroz said this week. ``There's not a lot of big women bangers. You don't see the 6(-foot)-2 or 6-3s in the middle. More likely, they're big but not fast.''

As an example, Quiroz pointed to his own middle blocker, 6-1 junior Kelly Ayers. ``If she's there, she'll block you,'' Quiroz said, ``but offensively, she's got work to do.''

That doesn't mean Ayers isn't talented. It's just that there aren't as many players or as many teams in this area that make the sport's ardent followers take note.

Poly coach Jimmy Ikeda, who guided his team to a City 3-A title last year, noticed a decline in both the quantity and the quality of players in his own program. He thinks maybe the WNBA has something to do with it.

``Basketball now draws kids away,'' he said. ``Kids are now specializing.''

Saugus coach Bobbie Estes and La Reina's Don Hyatt tell of being ranked in the Southern Section preseason polls because the ranking committee couldn't think of anyone else.

The balance of power, which had shifted a little to the area from the beach and Orange County schools, has firmly shifted back, leaving only two area teams with the talent to challenge for a section title: Royal and Harvard-Westlake.

Royal, which dominates boys' volleyball like no other, has won just five Marmonte League titles in 15 years and none outright since 1991. That will change this year.

Leading the Royal resurgence is 5-11 senior outside hitter Courtney Guerra, followed closely by 6-1 middle blocker Teresa Russell and setters Annette Wilson, who was named MVP of the Watts Summer Games, and Agoura transfer Michaela Skelly.

There's also passer extraordinnaire Toni-Ann Merendino and 5-10 opposite hitter Patty Myszkowski. Two underclassmen to watch are sophomore Carly Huffman (6-1) and junior Amanda Kiser (5-11) at opposite hitter.

Harvard-Westlake has dominated the Mission League, winning 50 straight matches and 59 of its last 60. There's no reason to think the streak won't continue with Ayers and the return of 6-1 senior outside hitter Anne Jackle, who missed much of last season with an ankle injury, and 6-1 setter Ashley Julian.

Further proof that this is a down time for volleyball is the emergence of freshmen Courtney Schultz (5-11) and 5-10 Carolyn Kuchenbecker, who will start and/or receive significant playing time. Players like these two are signs of the area's next great revival.

The best of the rest, by ranking:

Calabasas: Brooke Niles. Need we say more? Actually, Niles, the 5-9 everywhere player who led the Coyotes to their first Frontier League title and berth in a Southern Section semifinal, has a supporting cast. It includes 6-0 senior Carina Nusinov, 5-11 Maryam Ahmadian (transfer from Chaminade), 5-11 Lindsey Higgins and 5-10 left-handed Laura Harrison.

Alemany: The Indians, led by 5-10 senior Sasha Hernandez, are ready to return to the area's elite. There's plenty of height with middle blockers Danielle Messiha (5-11 senior), Crissy Centeno (5-10 junior) and Janell Acana (5-10 junior).

La Reina: The Regents are 58-2 in their last six Tri-Valley League seasons and will repeat as titlists with 6-1 sophomore Jennifer Ryan and 5-11 senior Erica Robbins in the middle and 5-9 setter Ashley Hain.

Flintridge Sacred Heart: Megan Hosp, a 5-9 powerful hitter, returns and will be rejoined by 5-9 junior Brynne Young, who missed much of last year because of an ankle injury. Senior Megan Hankins had major knee surgery and will start slowly, so expect 5-11 sophomore Sarah Skeehan to step in.

Saugus: There's more depth and a Foothill League title in sight, but setter Jamie Bolt missed a month vacationing out of state and isn't in top shape yet. She will be a factor, however, setting to 6-0 middle blocker Heather Cessna and 5-10 outside hitter Jessica Burns. Watch out for 5-9 senior outside hitter Amy Warne.

Poly: Five starters return from last year's City 3-A champions, but a repeat won't happen because the Parrots are good enough to be drawn into the 4-A playoffs, per new rules. Still, City 3-A Player of the Year Gaby Gallardo returns with a summer of club under her. Junior Youssra Marjoua (5-11) also played club and will improve at middle blocker.

Canyon: The defending Foothill League champs lost their setter but have enough depth to challenge Saugus. There's plenty of height with 5-11 Jamie Arnold and 5-11 Crystal Meyers. A pair of 6-footers, sophomore Katy Holdaway and Wendy McNeal, will grow stronger as the season progresses.

Sylmar: The Spartans are tall, which is unusual for them. They will be led by 5-11 junior middle blocker Cassandra Jimenez, 5-8 senior middle blocker Alicia Ramos and 5-8 sophomore lefty Stephanie Cisneros.

Others: Granada Hills has a certain Division I pick in 6-1 outside/middle Michelle Ferucci. . . . Village Christian will be led by Errin Benesh, who set a school record in kills last year. . . . Westlake lost six starters from last year's Division II titlist and begins rebuilding with new coach Karen Klee and outside hitter Stacey Lee. . . . La Canada has one of the area's best returning setters in sophomore Tracy Neumeier. . . . Louisville has a couple of 5-11 sophomores, Colleen Hamlin and Megan O'Connell. . . . Campbell Hall will challenge in the Delphic League with outside hitter Alexis Kotelko. . . . Moorpark moves into the Marmonte League with seniors Ashley Fine and Lauren Gauger. . . . Notre Dame figures to compete with setter Nevada Blonstein and hitter January Machold.

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Photo

PHOTO Harvard-Westlake has a shot at the section title thanks to, from left, Kelly Ayers, Anne Jackle and Ashley Julian.

Myung J. Chun/Daily News