Erik Boal
GLENDALE -- o7 Odds and ends from the local high school boys'
volleyball scene:f7
More than just a nonleague match: When you compete in the Mission
League, it's kind of hard to look ahead to any competition outside of
league, for fear that Loyola or Harvard-Westlake might just make you
regreat it.
But for St. Francis High, today's nonleague match at 6 p.m. at Village
Christian has been circled on the calendar for quite some time.
After the Crusaders ended the Golden Knights' amazing CIF Southern
Section Division IV playoff run in last year's quarterfinals, winning in
four games, St. Francis Coach Mark Frazee didn't hesitate to schedule
Village Christian in between league matches with West Hills Chaminade
(Friday) and Mission Hills Alemany (April 9).
"They have a lot of good, consistent players and they're playing some
quality teams so it should be a real good test for us," Frazee said.
"I know a lot of their kids through club and I'm very familiar with
the way they play.
"We're both good, strong teams, but I just wish I was at full
strength. If we had everybody available, I could honestly say that we
wouldn't be a distinct underdog going in."
Frazee's comments came on the heels of learning March 20 that junior
outside hitter Scott Smiland would most likely be lost for the rest of
the regular season and possibly the entire year because of a broken left
hand.
Smiland -- who was averaging between 15 and 20 kills per match -- was
bit by the injury bug for the second straight year, having been sidelined
for most of last season with a shoulder injury.
However, Smiland returned just in time for St. Francis' playoff run,
which included upset victories against Morro Bay and Carpinteria.
But this year's postseason is still more than a month away, and Frazee
believes that a win, or a really good showing on his team's behalf, might
help its cause for a possible at-large berth should the Golden Knights
not finish among the top three teams in their legaue.
From one Crusade to another: One aspect of tonight's match that might
possibly favor St. Francis is fresh legs.
There is no doubt that Village Christian is battle tested, but the
Crusaders might also be a little tired having just returned from Las
Vegas, winning five matches and losing four in the prestigious 60-team
Easter Invitational Tournament.
Bill Schnobrich's squad won its first four matches Monday -- defeating
Rincon High of Tucson, San Diego Francis Parker and local teams Gorman
