VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW\Illness kept him from doing well at the Junior Olympics, but with\hard work, Jason Lee is ...\Setting himself up to succeed.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

Last summer, before the most important club volleyball tournament of the season, Westlake High School's Jason Lee was a mess. His knee was sprained, he was running a 101-degree temperature, there were sores in his mouth and he was taking pain killers.

"I was pretty pathetic," he said.

He did nothing at the Junior Olympics, blowing his chance to impress college recruiters. Months later, as the prep boys' volleyball season is about to begin, the 6-foot-6-inch Lee has regrouped in a big way.

"He's probably the best-kept secret," Reebok Palisades club coach Bill Ferguson said.

During the fall, Lee played on Ferguson's championship 18-and-under club team, which won the Berkeley tournament. Suddenly, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge began taking notice. He's now considered the area's top college prospect.

"This is my year," Lee promised, "I'm working my butt off."

Twice a week, he runs up and down the bleachers at Westlake's football stadium. He has lifted weights and played in several recreation leagues. He has a 3.6 grade-point average and possesses the determination to succeed.

"I just love the game so much," he said. "If you ask any of my friends, I'm the one always asking to play. I'm very competitive. I love to win. I'll do anything to win. I basically want to be the best."

Lee is considered a top athlete and strong blocker. He has an unusual jump serve with a side spin that Ferguson said he has never seen before.

"He'll stand sideways, hit it from the side and it comes in like a curveball," he said. "My setter turned around during a match and said, 'Serve that weird thing.' "

Once again, Westlake will try to challenge Royal for the Marmonte League title. Besides Lee, the Warriors return 6-5 Ryan Martin, 6-1 setter Shawn McKenna and 6-1 Kevin Nagler.

Other teams to watch:

Harvard-Westlake: Five starters are back from a team that has won the Mission League title three straight years under coach Jesse Quiroz. There's size and experience with 6-2 Rick Rauth, 6-5 Trevor Julian, 6-1 Jimmy Ostridge, 6-0 Pat Roscoe and 5-10 setter Jason Morrow.

The team is experimenting with a new offense using only one middle blocker. Quiroz thinks he has the best Division I team in the Valley.

Campbell Hall: The Vikings could win the Division III championship. Five starters return from a Tim Jensen-coached team that lost in the semifinals to Santa Ynez. Dylan Herrick, a 6-4 middle blocker, is being recruited by UC Irvine. Setter Tim Nollan is a four-year starter. Outside hitter John Rosenberg is a 6-5 junior with great potential. Sophomore Larry Cole, who's 6-3, transferred from Canyon. The Vikings have loaded their nonleague schedule with Division I opponents.

Royal: The Highlanders have won eight straight Marmonte League titles under coach Bob Ferguson. The competition is getting tougher, but so are the Highlanders. This year's stars figure to be 6-4 Jimmy Bonelli and 6-4 Joe Olsen, both seniors with lots of varsity experience. Marc Chaffee, who's 6-5, started last season as a sophomore. Junior setter John Baxter, who's 6-3, is one of the area's best.

Crespi: It's the Celts and not Loyola whom Harvard-Westlake might have to worry about in the Mission League. Crespi has brought in a highly regarded new coach in Alvin Lamarre, who built Brentwood into a volleyball power. Some 50 Crespi students expressed interest in trying volleyball. "It seems like the program has really taken off," Lamarre said.

The Celts have the area's top college prospect for 1997 in 6-5 junior Ryan Hill, plus 6-3 outside hitter Brian Spratt and his brother, 6-4 sophomore James Spratt. Setter Steve Joo and 6-0 Brian Emerson also have experience. Football quarterback Todd McLean, who's 6-4, is trying the sport, as is freshman football star John Perry.

Chatsworth: The Chancellors could be ready to overtake Kennedy and Granada Hills for Northwest Valley supremacy. Returning for coach Bud Dow are 6-3 juniors Chris Wilson and Steve Wiessner.

Granada Hills: Never underestimate the Highlanders and coach Tom Harp. The only top player back is 6-3 middle blocker Don Puathasnanon, but the Highlanders won the JV title last year behind league MVP Kirk Matsuzaki. Paul DiSimone, a 6-3 junior, is the brother of former All-City player Mike DiSimone.

Highland: There is life after Ryan Millar. Coach Mike Bird has a team that should run away with the Golden League title, especially since Canyon, Saugus and Hart have left the league. Millar, last year's Daily News Player of the Year, is now starting at Brigham Young. But the Bulldogs still have talent with All-Southern Section setter Brandon Kimball, 6-2 Sean Crosier, 6-3 Mike Phillips and 6-3 Tom Haight. A big addition could be basketball star John Burrell.

Others: New Canyon coach Spencer MacCuish, a former assistant at The Master's, will rely on setter Jeff Waller and outside hitter Ryan Furginson. A top young player is 6-4 junior Jason McMillen. . . . Poly could return to the top of the Valley Pac-8 Conference. The Parrots return five players, including 6-3 Kevin Banos and 6-4 Juan Diaz. Sophomore Gilbert Ramos, who's 6-1 and growing, could be a star. . . . Alemany returns five starters. Tim Nelson, a 6-4 senior, and 5-10 senior Darin Bell are the players to watch. . . . Taft could be a team of the future. The Toreadors have two promising sophomores in 6-4 Joe Nargi and 5-11 Tomer Firouzman. . . . Notre Dame's top player is 6-3 Bro Richmond, who has Hawaiian ties.

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Photo Westlake's Jason Lee is considered the area's top college volleyball prospect. Jeremy Greene / Special to the Daily News