VOLLEYBALL: CANYON A BIG TEST FOR VALENCIA.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Valencia impressed many at the Dos Pueblos boys' volleyball tournament. But will it translate into a victory today against Foothill League rival Canyon?

It won't be easy, but when the Vikings and Cowboys meet at Canyon at 4:45 p.m., Valencia (4-1, 1-0) will not only try to continue the momentum from the weekend, it will try to hand Canyon (6-1, 1-0) its first league defeat in two seasons.

Valencia coach Kevin Kornegay's plan for 2001 was to improve his team's nonleague schedule to better prepare for Canyon and the playoffs. To that end, he dropped some Golden League opponents and entered the Dos Pueblos tournament, one of the season's most prestigious.

The Vikings tied for second with Thousand Oaks in their five-team pool but advanced to the playoffs because of their better ratio of points scored to points allowed. That alone was a victory because Valencia didn't figure to make the playoffs. But then the tournament buzz really began after it dominated Westlake 15-0 in the first round of the playoffs after the Warriors won their pool.

``People were tripping on that,'' Kornegay said.

Valencia's run ended in the quarterfinals with a 15-9 loss to Poway after the Vikings led 9-3.

--The matchup: Canyon will be more rested than Valencia when they play today. Not only did the Cowboys not compete at Dos Pueblos but Valencia played Alemany Monday night.

Plus, the Cowboys are the healthier team. Valencia has three key players hurt: outside hitter Justin Dyer (knee), middle blocker David Pauls (back) and outside hitter David Lauf (shoulder). Of these, Dyer and Lauf could play, but Pauls won't.

Canyon has a healthy Jesse Alo and an emerging Brian Waite. Playing basketball keeps Waite away until almost the season's start, so the senior needs time to redevelop his timing and arm swing. In the last two weeks, he has started complementing Alo and had a .510 hitting percentage against Simi Valley.

--Somebody get a doctor: Antelope Valley, long a Golden League doormat, had visions of challenging for at least a playoff spot and maybe even a league title. That was, until just about every player got hurt.

Defensive specialist Jino Caro hyperextended his wrist. Hitter Forrest Socci dislocated his thumb. Outside hitter/middle blocker Josh Hedrick, who first-year coach Cynthia Grimes calls her best player, bruised his hip. Setter Justin Chapman twisted his knee and hyperextended his elbow. Middle blocker Ollie Bradley aggravated an already-hurt rotator cuff.

Grimes has just six healthy players, seven if she counts Rodney Shirley, whom she promoted from the junior varsity.

Most of the injured, including Hedrick, Chapman and Socci, play hurt, but it wasn't enough to prevent a five-game loss to Lancaster nor prevent Grimes from wondering what if.

``If we were healthy, we'd be a different team,'' she said. ``I can't practice them hard. We're hoping after spring break (in two weeks) they can heal and play more effectively.''

--Inexperienced experience: Highland's roster is senior-heavy, yet the Bulldogs often play nervously because there's just three seniors with previous varsity experience.

Now, two others are stepping forward: middle blocker Craig Wilson and outside hitter Ryan Luongo.

Coach Tom Jones said Wilson has benefited from a year of club volleyball and averages between six and eight blocks a match. Luongo seemed to need a steady position. He has bounced between outside hitter and opposite hitter and appears more comfortable at opposite.