GIRLS' WATER POLO PREVIEW: GIRLS CAN NOW TAKE AIM AT SOUTHERN SECTION TITLE.

Byline: Rizza Yap Daily News Staff Writer

It's no longer their inaugural season, but local girls' water polo teams still have something new to look forward to this year - a shot at a Southern Section title.

Last season's debut lacked playoff action since less than 100 schools of the nearly 500 in the Southern Section had teams. (At least 20 percent must sponsor a program to merit a championship tournament.) This year, 128 are competing.

Many coaches agreed that a postseason tourney - and a year's worth of experience - has changed their players' outlook.

``The honeymoon is over,'' Harvard-Westlake coach Rich Corso said. ``It's a whole other chapter to the women's sport. Now the girls are playing for a very big, very important championship. Southern Section always has been the place for American (men's) water polo. Now we want to establish it as a place for American women's water polo.''

The Wolverines took home last year's Mission League title with a 14-1 record. This time, Harvard-Westlake returns 13 members and features Jeanine Jackson, Stephanie Dashiell, Nina Siman and Rachel Burkons.

Harvard-Westlake is looking to defend its league crown, but it will be a tough road to the top since this season's Mission League is loaded with talent - including third-place finisher La Canada, who handed the Wolverines their lone loss in 1996-97.

Spartans coach Mary Holt said her team's level of improvement has rocketed this year, mainly because of experience, including participation in a summer program and the Los Angeles Cup this fall. La Canada is 8-2 and earned fourth place in the Magnolia tournament last week. Last year, the squad finished 11th in the same tourney. Becky Johan, Catherine Ellis, Coral Cozad and Ashley Myers pace the Spartans in scoring and Jennifer Song is back as goalkeeper. Freshman Mariah Zebrowski also is showing great potential as a developing driver.

``As a team, we're surprising ourselves at the level we've stepped up to this year,'' Ellis said. ``We're working better together. We anticipate what the other is going to do.''

Louisville: Another Mission League threat, the Royals are off to an 8-0 start and won the Magnolia tournament. Senior Kim Feig, who was dominant last year, returns as one of the team's top scorers along with Kiley Grombacher. Coach Stacey Smith said Louisville's strength lies in the players' speed and aggressiveness.

Crescenta Valley: First-year coach Peter Kim hopes to win a second Pacific League title with three returning starters and two promising newcomers, freshman Stacy Carstensen and junior Pam Navarro. The Falcons are 4-3, led by scoring leaders Shawna Byrnes and Kate Freudenberg, and goalie Misty Harlan, who has recorded 39 saves.

Royal: The Highlanders, a first-year program, are looking for leadership from a trio who previously played with the boys' water polo team. Jennifer Lilly is powerful on offense and Amanda Hudson and Amy Bruininga are key team players. Starting goalie Annie Ferrall is temporarily sidelined with an injury suffered in a car accident last week. Ashley Layton has stepped up from the junior varsity team to fill in while Ferrall is recovering.

Westlake: Freshman Colleen Schiman, a transfer from Hawaii with club water polo experience, leads the Warriors' first-year program with 12 goals in four games. Veterans also include Maria Fuchs, Kate Moyer, Becca Grice and Katie Naylon, who played with the boys' team last year. Westlake is 1-2 in the Marmonte League and 2-2 overall.

Alemany: The Indians' leading scorer and Most Valuable Player last season, Collette Wieland, is out with an injury. Wieland snapped her forearm while playing volleyball and is expected back in January.

Goalkeeper Mary Podegrascz, a 1997 All-Mission League pick, returns in great form as she made 11 saves in Alemany's league-opening loss to Arcadia. Coach Steve Barron also is excited to see freshman Molly Feeney join his squad. Feeney, the team's sprinter, is a junior national swimmer.

Newbury Park: This year, the Panthers hosted their second tournament. With a field of 16 teams, it doubled last year's tournament size.

``We hope that next year, it doubles again,'' coach Steve Borg said.

Newbury Park is 4-3 overall with an 0-2 Marmonte League record. Katy Fick and Alyson Blum are tied for the No. 1 scoring spot with 14 goals apiece.

Burroughs: Averaging four goals per game, Sarah Vejar leads a sophomore-dominated team, followed by Julie Olson. Five of seven starters are in the 10th grade. The squad is rather small in size, coach John Kunishima said, but it is quick.

``The level of play has jumped, I would say, tenfold,'' Kunishima said. ``It was disappointing last year not to be able to continue after league. Now we've got the championship to look to. The team is working, pushing harder.''

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Photo: From left, Becky Johan, Coral Cozad, Ashley Myers and Catherine Ellis spark La Canada's offense.