GIRLS VOLLEYBALL / Players to Watch

* Sarah Ballog, Santa Margarita, middle blocker, Sr.

* Danielle Bauer, Foothill, middle blocker, Sr.

* Jessica Bartter, Valencia, setter, Sr.

* Allison Bendush, St. Margaret’s, outside hitter, Jr.

* Jennifer Carey, Newport Harbor, setter, Sr.

* Dusty Creager, Cypress, outside hitter, Sr.

* Kristen Gallup, Capistrano Valley, outside hitter, Sr.

* Kristin Gunderson, Laguna Beach, outside hitter, Sr.

* Tracy Lindquist, Ocean View, outside hitter, Sr.

* Chanda McLeod, Marina, outside hitter, Sr.

* Kelly Overby, Calvary Chapel, outside hitter, Jr.

* Ashlee Phillips, Marina, setter, Sr.

* April Ross, Newport Harbor, outside hitter, Jr.

* Sharon Shelton, Ocean View, outside hitter, Jr.

* Amanda Siler, La Habra, setter, Sr.

* Natalie Snowden, Fountain Valley, outside hitter, Sr.

* Lauren Warner, Mater Dei, outside hitter, Sr.

League Favorites

Academy: St. Margaret’s; Century: Foothill; Empire: Cypress; Freeway: La Habra; Garden Grove: Pacifica; Golden West: Ocean View; Olympic: Calvary Chapel; Orange: Valencia; Pacific Coast: Laguna Beach; Sea View: Newport Harbor; South Coast: Mater Dei; Sunset: Marina.

Key Dates

Sept. 18-19, 21, Dave Mohs Memorial tournament, various sites; Nov. 10, 12, 14, 17, Southern Section playoffs, various sites; Nov. 20, 21, Southern Section finals, Cypress College; Nov. 24, 28, Dec. 1, State regionals, various sites; Dec. 5 State finals, CS Fullerton.

1997 Final Poll

1. Mater Dei; 2. Fountain Valley; 3. Ocean View; 4. Newport Harbor; 5. Marina; 6. Laguna Beach; 7. Santa Margarita; 8. Cypress; 9. La Habra; 10. Corona del Mar.

Notes

Newport Harbor’s 6-foot-1 setter Jennifer Carey is one of the state’s top prospects. The Sailors also feature one of the county’s best outside hitters, April Ross. Complement that with talented, 6-2 middle blockers senior Kathy Lavold and junior Krista Dill, and it’s easy to see why Newport Harbor is the top-ranked team in the county and state. . . . Although Newport Harbor is the preseason favorite, Marina is the defending Division I state and Division I-A section champion. The Vikings will be strong because they return seniors Chanda McLeod and setter Ashlee Phillips, both top college recruits, and senior outside hitter Katie Keating. . . . Ocean View is a defending Division III state and section championship team, but the Seahawks are hurting early. Sharon Shelton, one of the county’s top outside hitters, has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since July and starting outside hitter Kelly Jameson (mononucleosis) is also out. “We may not get those two back until early October, maybe November,” Ocean View Coach Tim Mennealy said.