VOLLEYBALL NOTEBOOK: IN A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer

Loyola, Royal, Highland and Valencia: Four boys' volleyball programs in search of a league.

Actually, they're all in leagues, but none are competitive enough for them. Loyola of Los Angeles has won its past 41 Mission League contests, rarely giving up a game. Royal of Simi Valley has lost only two Marmonte League matches - to Thousand Oaks - in 14 years. Highland of Palmdale has won 11 of 12 Golden League titles.

Valencia is the newest member. The Vikings lost once in winning their first Foothill League title and now are poised to run off a string of crowns.

Year after year, these teams struggle in a different way: Few programs play at their level. Other teams recognize this. Mission coaches believe their league would be very competitive if not for Loyola.

``I don't think this league is good enough for Loyola,'' Crespi of Encino coach Raissa Adolphe said. ``I'd like to think if I had a team like Loyola, I'd want to be in a better league.''

Loyola coach Mike Boehle agrees.

``My kids are frustrated we don't have anyone to push us,'' he said. ``I try to schedule a tough nonleague schedule.''

It would be nice if these teams could form their own league. Instead, they schedule each other, or try to. Royal lost to Loyola in four games Thursday. This season, Valencia beat Royal in five. Highland lost to Valencia in three and tried to schedule Royal.

These teams also go to the most challenging tournaments: San Diego, Redondo, Dos Pueblos.

--Back to Division I: Since 2001, Southern Section teams have been grouped into divisions based on enrollment, which has meant the strongest division has been II instead of I. That ends next season.

The Southern Section approved new divisional alignments for all sports that don't have a state championship. The alignment will be based on strength of league. The Mission and Marmonte will move up from Division II to Division I for the 2003-06 seasons.

--A real spring break: The City Section observed its spring recess last week. Most teams rested or practiced lightly, but Monroe of North Hills took that to extremes. With four players suffering with various degrees of injured backs and a fifth player showing flu symptoms, the Vikings have done nothing after the Northridge tournament March 23.

Setter Esteban Aldana didn't play in the tournament and probably won't play until the postseason, coach Bob Berrenson said. Gil Lingamen is improving, back-row player Jason Pieu is getting worse, and all-around player Dennis Gatmaitan keeps re-injuring it against the unpadded poles in practice. Plus, top hitter Oscar Avelar, who has committed to CSUN, has the flu.

``We're just a mess now,'' Berrenson said.

--Parallel? Granada Hills coach Tom Harp sees many similarities between this team and his 1997 City champions.

Both teams have excellent fundamentals. The 1997 team had no one go-to player, just a bunch of no-names whose sum was better than their individual parts. These Highlanders are the same: senior Taku Uechi and sophomore Kris Manasala hit, Eric Sulzinger blocks and occasionally hits, and junior Tommy Patikamanant sets.

However, that year, the Highlanders were the City favorites. This year, it's Chatsworth, which also has a height advantage. The two teams first play April 9.

``We'll have to make it up with quickness and passing,'' Harp said.