Harvard-Westlake Is Healthy Enough

Most of the bandages were still being worn, a tape-and-gauze symbol of what North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake High had to endure.

With strains, sprains, hairline fractures and aching backs, the Wolverines have logged serious time in the trainer’s room in recent weeks.

They were able to piece themselves together for a decisive run to the Southern Section Division III-A girls’ volleyball championship, culminating with a 15-3, 15-5, 15-3 victory over Torrance Bishop Montgomery on Friday at Cypress College.

Karalyn Kuchenbecker (strained wrist) and Stanford-bound Courtney Schultz (back spasms) each had nine kills for the top-seeded Wolverines, and Alexandra Dunphy (two hairline fractures in her right hand) had 40 assists.

Among their healthy players, Justine Davidson had nine kills and Terbrie Taylor had eight for the Wolverines (17-2), who patched up just in time to defeat their biggest playoff rival.

The teams played against each other in a Southern Section final for the fourth time in seven years, with Harvard-Westlake winning for the third time.

“That’s the best we’ve played all year,” Coach Jess Quiroz said. “We played incredible defense. I think we let one, maybe two balls hit the ground all night.”

Jamie Crawford had seven kills and Noelle Quinn added six for No. 2-seeded Bishop Montgomery (19-7), which advances along with Harvard-Westlake to the state tournament, which begins Tuesday.

“I don’t mind losing, but I mind the way we lost tonight,” Bishop Montgomery Coach Kim Willeman said. “Mistake after mistake after mistake.”

Harvard-Westlake, on the other hand, took leads of 9-1 in the first game, 8-3 in the second game and 12-0 in the third.

Said Schultz: “We were almost perfect tonight.”

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San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s def. Brentwood, 15-4, 15-12, 15-10--Suzy Trimble had 13 kills and the top-seeded Tartans (25-1) won the Division IV-A championship.

Kamme Hauser had 10 kills for St. Margaret’s, which won its third consecutive Southern Section title.

“It’s great to see the standards our girls keep setting,” St. Margaret’s Coach Susie Maga said.

Jessica Fishburn had seven kills for No. 3-seeded Brentwood (24-5).