LITTLEROCK AGAIN HITS EARLY SLUMP.

Byline: Chris Cocoles Daily News Staff Writer

Chemistry just isn't a favorite subject among Littlerock High girls' volleyball players in preseason.

Lobos coach Preston Aldous is experiencing a bit of deja vu from the first month of the 1996 season when players had a hard time meshing into a cohesive unit.

``We're struggling to play as a team. There just seems to be a lot of friction out there,'' said Aldous, whose team straightened itself out a year ago and finished 7-3 and second in the Golden League. ``This is pretty much the same team as last year except for (the loss of team MVP Crystal Trumble to graduation). This same kind of thing happened last year, and I would expect these girls to be a playoff team again.''

They started quickly with wins over Rosamond and Montclair Prep, and collected a 12th-place finish at the 57-team Desert Classic in San Bernardino, eliminating Golden League rival Palmdale along the way.

``They were pumped up after beating Palmdale,'' Aldous said. ``They were excited to beat such a tough team and a rival.''

But the Lobos suffered through a miserable 0-for-3 effort last week, losing in three games to Silverado and Valencia and in four to Sultana.

The Lobos have the experience and talent to match their 1996 effort. Senior outside hitter Becky Haycox has been Littlerock's most consistent player, and junior setter Hayriye Akman has made the transition to full-time starter coming off a sophomore season when she split time between the JV and varsity teams.

Aldous figures to be chasing defending champion Highland but admits that second place is wide open.

``I think it will be between Quartz Hill, Palmdale and us (for second). I would just like to see us compete when we play Highland,'' Aldous said.

Highland: That's three down, one to go for Highland. Tuesday's 15-12, 15-12, 15-5 win over visiting Victor Valley avenged a loss to the Jackrabbits a year ago.

The Bulldogs had also lost to Saugus and Hart in 1996 but defeated both the Centurions and Indians earlier in the season.

Tonight the Bulldogs can erase all of their nonleague losses when Notre Dame visits.

``We were pretty embarrassed by both Victor Valley and Notre Dame last year,'' Highland coach Mike Bird said.

As if the already loaded Bulldogs needed any more reinforcements, Quartz Hill transfer Melissa Rawson, a junior outside hitter, is challenging for a starting job.

Another junior, Amber Stevens, has found a spot in the rotation on a roster that includes 10 seniors. Stevens recorded 11 blocks in the Victor Valley win on Tuesday.

Antelope Valley: A.V. lost in four games to Tehachapi on Tuesday night with just five players on the court in the final two games.

Setter Christine Leal had to leave the match after complaining of chest pains following the Antelopes' 15-11 win in the second game. AV lost 4-15 and 11-15 with one player down.