Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- The Harvard-Westlake girls' volleyball team is
simply fun to watch and when the Wolverines get down to business and stop
toying with opponents, they're nearly unstoppable.
La Canada crossed the Wolverines' path in the CIF Southern Section
Division IIIA second round, but Kevin Boyke's team just didn't stand a
chance.
The Spartans were eliminated from the playoffs for the second straight
year, this time, falling, 15-5, 15-6, 15-10, Saturday night at home.
"We have fun out there," Wolverine Coach Jess Quiroz said. "They have
a lot of confidence. They know they have a lot of reassurance from the
coaches."
Harvard-Westlake has all the tools to win its second straight
divisional championship.
With Stanford-bound opposite hitter Courtney Schultz (6-foot-2) and
middle blocker Terbrie Taylor (6-2) occupying the middle of the court,
opponents have nowhere to go but the outside.
But the Wolverines' arsenal doesn't end with Schultz and Taylor.
Senior outside hitter Karalyn Kuchenbecker -- who had eight kills and
five blocks -- soars above the net with ease, causing trouble for
opponents both on offense and defense.
When Harvard-Westlake setter Alexandra Dunphy, who had 33 assists,
directed the ball toward Schultz on Saturday, the senior made her kills
look easy, offering the La Canada players a final glimpse of what the
hype about her is all about.
"We go out as hard as we can," said Schultz, who had nine kills and
eight blocks. "We come out to win. We know we have to come out strong."
Taylor had a match-high 14 kills and five blocks.
Besides for No. 2-seeded Bishop Montgomery is anyone going to come
close to dethroning Harvard-Westlake?
"I expect some competition," Schultz said.
Area powerhouse, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, defeating the
Wolverines earlier this season in a Mission League match, but
Harvard-Westlake was without Schultz.
What is it going to take to beat Quiroz's team?
"You have to have someone up at the net," Quiroz said. "I think you
have to play well at all aspects of the game."
La Canada (18-7) tried to stay with the Wolverines, but the Spartans
were overmatched by Harvard-Westlake's tall front line.
"They're a good team and there is nothing you can take away from
them," said La Canada senior outside hitter Jennifer Geisbauer, who had a
team-high eight kills.
BOX SCORE
Harvard-Westlake*15*15*15
La Canada*5*6*10
HARVARD-WESTLAKE -- Taylor 14 kills and 5 blocks. Schultz 9 kills and
8 blocks. Kuchenbecker 8 kills and 5 blocks. Dunphy 33 assists.
LA CANADA -- Geisbauer 8 kills and 5 blocks. Kolar 7 kills. Bicknell 5
blocks. Cunningham 22 assists.
