Lock, stock and ready

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High’s girls water polo team sure

has quite an act to follow.

The Sailors are only the defending CIF Southern Section Division I

champion, as well as the Sea View League champ for two consecutive years.

“I don’t even think about that,” Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett said

about another CIF title. “There are a lot of other things to think about.

Our goal is to win league and go on from there.”

Still, the Sailors have the firepower to repeat in CIF, three-peat in

league. And Kyndra Cox is Newport’s biggest piece of ammunition. There’s

a lot to say about the senior All-CIF two-meter player, but one statistic

states it best: Cox scored 73 goals in 29 games last year.

“She’s very pivotal to our team,” Barnett said. “But we need someone to

help her on the set, and get the ball into her.”

That’s where the Sailors took a hit. Jenna Barto, a second-team All-CIF

player who had 40 goals and 40 assists last year as a junior, is not on

the roster. A chronic stomach problem, which Barto had to overcome, is

finally taking its toll.

“She leaves a void,” Barnett said.

The Sailors are deep enough to fill the void though. Another returning

senior, Katherine Gregg, was a rock in the lineup last year, and should

help Cox.

Another huge part in Newport’s rotation is sophomore Kathryn Belden.

Belden has the distinction of being one of two freshmen named to the

All-CIF first team. An explosive player, she might be asked to do a

little bit of passing, shooting and two-meter work.

Other players figuring to contribute are seniors Ali Taylor and McKenna

Mosier, and two juniors Erin Ball and Erin Kelly Bates.

Belden, along with Erin Murphy, will be counted on as defensive

stalwarts. The loss of four players to graduation seemed to be most

evident on defense. So far, Barnett has not been unhappy with his team’s

defense in the preseason.

And that leads to junior goalie Heather Deyden, who has the unenviable

task of replacing graduate, Erin Kennedy. Deyden will probably face more

shots than Kennedy, who was yet another All-CIF Sailor.

“Deyden’s a good goalie,” Barnett said. “She’s just untested.”

Deyden and the rest of the Sailors will be tested in a tough Sea View

League. Last year, Newport Harbor had to defeat league-rival Irvine for

the championship, and the Vaqueros again figure to be Newport’s main

nemesis in league and CIF.

Roster

Heather Deyden Jr.

Kyndra Cox Sr.

Kathryn Belden So.

Katherine Gregg Sr.

Erin Murphy Fr.

Ali Taylor Sr.

McKenna Mosier Sr.

Erin Kelly Bates Jr.

Erin Ball Jr.

Coach: Bill Barnett