The Preps : Volleyball Isn’t Just Beach Sport in the Southland

California continues to be the home of the nation’s best girls’ volleyball teams, placing four teams in the latest Volleyball Monthly top 10 and nine among the top 20.

But this year is different, especially in the Southland. It is the year of what might have been and what will be.

Keba Phipps is what might have been. She could be a franchise player for some college, doing for women’s volleyball what Cheryl Miller did for basketball. Instead, the 6-foot-3 Phipps, who played her junior season at Long Beach Jordan and transferred to Artesia for the second semester, jumped to the U.S. national team and moved to San Diego. At 17, she became the youngest player ever to compete full-time at that level.

Some college coaches predict that she will be the best player in the United States. Others believe she may already be the best.

So what remains after the No. 1 prospect in the country has broken the collective hearts of college recruiters? Nothing less than possibly the best group of high school seniors to ever come out of the L.A. area.

“It’s the most talent out there ever since I’ve been coaching, and that’s 20 years with the men and women,� San Diego State Coach Rudy Suwara said.

The latest Volleyball Monthly poll has Mira Costa first, Oxnard Hueneme fourth, Ojai Nordhoff fifth, Woodbridge of Irvine 10th, Newport Harbor of Newport Beach 11th, Torrance 13th, Irvine 17th, Laguna Beach 19th and Palisades of Pacific Palisades 20th.

“There are a lot of kids out there for a coach to choose from,� USC Coach Chuck Erbe said. They might not be one of the so-called blue chippers, but the players who in the past may have been just a notch below now also have the ability to be top players just because of their athletic ability.�

Added Andy Banachowksi of UCLA: “Basically, there are a lot more high school players who could become real good college players.�

The talent lineup begins at Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach. The Mustangs won the state Division I title and Volleyball Monthly’s mythical national championship last year. They graduated four starters and have yet to miss a beat. The team opened the season No. 1 in the nation and has not lost a game, something that happened only three times in ’85. Mira Costa figures to send four more players to Division I colleges.

Megan McCallister, a 6-foot middle blocker who was one of only two high school players to compete in last summer’s Olympic Festival in Houston, is considered California’s top prospect. Mira Costa also has Lisa Arce and Holly McPeak, both of whom will be heavily recruited. There is also Karrie Trieschmann, a reserve last year who is considered a great prospect and also one of the most improved players.

“In my opinion, Karrie Trieschmann will be an impact player as soon as she goes to college,� Cal State Long Beach Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. “She will help any school she goes to as a freshman.�

Ojai Nordhoff has two probable Division I players in Amy Svikhart and Leeana Merriweather. That meant that six of the state’s best prospects were on the court at the same time when Mira Costa defeated the Rangers for the championship of the Glendale-Hoover tournament Saturday night. McPeak was voted most valuable player and the five others were named all-tournament.

The other coaches’ favorites, in no particular order: Jill Johnson of Cerritos Gahr (“the best left-side hitter on the West Coast,� said one); Stacey Anderson of L.A. Marlborough; Missy Kurt of L.A. Notre Dame Academy; Christy Lee of Rolling Hills; Terry Lauchner of Torrance and twins Maria and Nora Reyes of Hueneme.

The discovery of a 24-year-old undercover narcotics agent who worked his way onto the Claremont High School football team and suited up for two games will not result in any action against the Wolfpack, Southern Section Commissioner Stan Thomas said Monday.

“I am absolutely convinced that Coach (Bob) Baiz followed all the rules to the letter and would not do anything wrong,� Thomas said. “That couldn’t be any clearer. I have no problem at all with the school. In fact, I’m very impressed with the way the coach handled it.�

Claremont Police Chief Dexter Atkinson told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune last week that the officer, identified as Jeff Hill, was asked to join the team by Baiz. But Baiz said Monday that Hill approached him along with the claim that he had never played high school football.

“He came out to practice and he was the best thing we’d ever seen, at about 6-2 and 210 pounds,� Baiz said. “He was quite a ballplayer, quite a senior. . . . We felt we either had a nugget or something was definitely wrong.�

Baiz said he became suspicious when he discovered discrepancies with the player’s previous class schedule.

Hill was on the sidelines for games against Burbank and Pomona Ganesha but did not play.

Baiz said no Claremont football players were involved in drug buys with Hill.

“It was an unusual situation,� Baiz said. “One that surprised us and hurt us at the same time.�

Prep Notes The Hacienda Heights Los Altos defense has allowed just 133 yards rushing in 154 attempts (.864 yards per carry) through six games. Saturday against Diamond Bar, the Conquerors held Sean Trejo, the San Gabriel Valley’s leading rusher, to 18 yards in 13 carries. Linebackers Ken Lopez and Jack Abel have combined for 25 sacks while defensive ends Zach Buhler and Garo Sirinian head the line. . . . Add defenses: Loyola, The Times’ eighth-ranked team in the Southern Section with a 6-0 record, has outscored opponents, 146-26, or an average of 24.7-4.3. The Cubs will get back-to-back tough tests Friday at St. John Bosco of Bellflower and Nov. 1 against Encino Crespi and running back Russell White at Glendale High. . . . The 304 yards by running back Eric Bieniemy of La Puente Bishop Amat last Thursday against Anaheim Servite wasn’t even a personal record--he rushed for 305 in a game last season. Bieniemy has 505 yards in the last two games.