VOLLEYBALL : TOLOGS IN FOR FIGHT.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

Here we go again.

For the third time this season - and much to the chagrin of coach Nancy Tinkham - the Flintridge Sacred Heart girls' volleyball team is playing Marlborough, this time in the state Division IV tournament.

The schools met in last week's Southern Section championship, with Flintridge winning in four games and handing the Mustangs (19-1) their lone loss. Earlier this season, the two played at Flintridge (17-3), and Marlborough won in five games.

Tonight's match, scheduled for 7 p.m. at St. Francis High, is for a berth in the Southern California regional final.

Westlake High, meanwhile, hosts Central Section champion Stockdale of Bakersfield in a Division II match.

Tinkham expressed disappointment at discovering fifth-seeded Marlborough was placed in the same bracket as her top-seeded Tologs. Still, she didn't need to take any time out from the holiday to scout.

Marlborough has a height advantage, but Flintridge's Megan Hosp and Danielle Dal Ponte hit hard enough to offset it. Add middle blockers Paulina Flint and Megan Hankin, and setter Catherine Smith has many options.

Westlake knocked off Central Section runner-up Sanger in Tuesday's first round, using depth any team would envy. Erika Denison and Leigh O'Neill, who were not a factor in the Warriors' Southern Section title victory over St. Joseph last week, stepped into the forefront.

Megan Hankins, Heather Hutchison and Courtney Miller, who dominated against St. Joseph, stepped back against Sanger.