SOUTHERN SECTION VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS : Top Players in Semifinal Spotlight

Two of Southern California’s top girls’ high school volleyball teams and players meet tonight when Laguna Beach plays Newport Harbor in a Southern Section Division I semifinal match at Corona del Mar High.

Senior All-American Rachel Wacholder leads third-seeded Laguna Beach (19-1), the defending section champion. In playoff sweeps of Aguora and Capistrano Valley, Wacholder has a total of 49 kills.

Unseeded Newport Harbor (18-4), led by sophomore standout Misty May’s 27 kills, upset second-seeded Los Angeles Notre Dame Academy in the quarterfinals.

Both Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor rely on young lineups.

Newport Harbor plays as many as four sophomores and starts freshman setter Jenny Hecker. Junior Hilary Kyle and sophomores Lisa Ravensberg, Christy Collisson and Megan Garner played well in Laguna Beach’s victory over Capistrano Valley.

But it was Wacholder who gave Laguna Beach the edge when the Artists swept the Sailors in a Sept. 17 nonleague match. She had 21 kills and 13 digs in a 15-12, 15-11, 15-9 victory.

“You play Newport Harbor, with (Coach) Dan Glenn, and you never know what can happen,” Laguna Beach Coach Michael Soylular said. “We’re just glad to be in the semifinals.”

The winner of the 7 p.m. match will advance to the finals at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Cerritos College against the winner of the match between top-seeded Corona del Mar (18-0) and fourth-seeded Santa Barbara (21-4).

Corona del Mar, top-ranked in USA Today’s national poll, has swept its first two playoff matches and has won 75 of 79 games it has played this season.

The Sea Kings, led by senior Lori Newcomer and junior Kim Coleman, are attempting to become the first Corona del Mar team to finish No. 1 nationally. The Sea Kings won the State title in 1990, but finished second in the national poll.

Three unseeded county teams--Sunny Hills and Sunset League entries Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach--have reached the Division II semifinals. Sunny Hills (18-1), which upset top-seeded Edison in the quarterfinals, will face Fountain Valley (13-6), coached by former Lakewood St. Joseph Coach Mike Hinton.

Sunny Hills is trying to win its first section title since 1988. Senior Rachel Hochgesang leads Sunny Hills, and Lisa Brown leads a balanced Fountain Valley attack.

Huntington Beach (14-5) meets unseeded Torrance Bishop Montgomery (14-3) in the other semifinal. Senior outside hitter Deana Itow leads Huntington Beach, which is trying to win its first section title.

Two Olympic League teams remain in Division V--top-seeded Capistrano Valley Christian (17-0) and third-seeded Calvary Chapel (15-2).

Capistrano Valley Christian, the defending State Division V champion, plays Brentwood (16-0) at St. Margaret’s. The Eagles feature two of the state’s top outside hitters in seniors Karen Benkovsky and Kathleen Bunce.

Calvary Chapel, led by hitters Courtney Owens and Sara Roberts, will meet second-seeded Los Angeles Baptist at Estancia High in the other semifinal.