Site Change Prompts El Camino Real to Postpone Girls’ Volleyball Match

The rivalry between the Valley’s top two City Section girls’ volleyball teams has gone from on-court conflicts to a conflict over courts.

El Camino Real High officials postponed Thursday afternoon’s match at Chatsworth after learning that the match had been moved to the Chatsworth girls’ gym.

Chatsworth traditionally plays in its main gym, but the larger gym is closed until next week because the floor recently was resurfaced.

The girls’ gym is about half the size of the main gym--large enough to fit a regulation volleyball court but too small for bleachers.

“I don’t want to play a match (of that caliber) in the small gym,” El Camino Real Coach Lori Chandler said. “The large gym and the small gym are like night and day.”

Chatsworth Coach Steve Berk criticized the decision during practice Thursday, pointing out that the Chancellors already have played five matches in the gym this season.

“We haven’t had any complaints from the other coaches,” Berk said. “It’s the same as any court--the same dimensions, the same net.”

City Section administrator Pat Harvey said that El Camino Real was allowed to postpone the match because Chatsworth failed to notify the Conquistadores of the site change. Chatsworth officials have yet to reschedule the game.

“Had there been some notification, I’m sure (El Camino Real) would have made some concessions,” Harvey said.

El Camino Real and Chatsworth have been two of the area’s top teams. Last year, Chatsworth beat the Conquistadores in the 4-A Division semifinals before losing to Palisades in the final. El Camino Real has been in the semifinals two of the past four years.