GAMERS

Throw out the record books, throw out the rankings, bust out the

earplugs and keep the women and children safe.

Tonight at 6, Newport Harbor High’s girls volleyball team (4-2) hosts

Back Bay rival Corona del Mar (4-1) in yet another saga of the “Battle of

the Bay.”

“Playing CdM is one of the reasons why I’m still coaching,” Sailors

Coach Dan Glenn said. “It’s just a great rivalry and every match seems to

be a battle to the end. Do I ever get sick of it? Heck no.

One thing Glenn might be a little sick of is the way the Sea Kings

have treated his squads as of late.

“My teams (boys and girls) have come up on the wrong end of the stick

the last four times, so hopefully, it’ll be our turn this time,” Glenn

said with a laugh.

After a tough road loss to Laguna Beach, Newport improved its play at

the Dave Mohs Memorial Tournament, winning four of five matches.

“We definitely picked up our game at the tournament,” Glenn said.

“We’ve been up and down so far this year and there’s still a lot of room

for improvement

One question mark for the Sailors is the availability of junior

Christine Woller, who is hobbled with a sprained ankle. “We’ll just have

to see how it is before the match begins,” Glenn said.

For the Sea Kings, they also played deep into the Dave Mohs Memorial

Tournament, winning three of four matches.

In their season-opening win against Calvary Chapel on Sept. 12, senior

outside hitter Lindsey Anstandig had six kills and five ace serves, while

junior Jacqueline Becker dished out 15 assists to go along with three

kills and four aces.

The key to either team’s success, according to Glenn will be on who

can win the longer points.

“It will come down to which team can pull out those long rallies,”

Glenn said.

With schedule similarities, both teams go into tonight’s matchup in

the dark as far as strengths and weaknesses go.

“I haven’t had a chance to see CdM play. They were playing in the

tournament the same time we did. Right now, I’m more concerned with my

team and what we have to do.”

Throw in the emotional factor of playing the rival school and all the

X’s and O’s go right out the window.

“It’s going to be very exciting,” Glenn said. “It’s always fun to play

them. You know Coach (Steve) Conti will have his players ready.”

Here’s today’s sports menu:

Pacific Coast League cross country kicks off today as CdM hosts Costa

Mesa at 2:45, while Northwood makes its league debut at Estancia at 3:15.

Newport Harbor, Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa’s boys water polo teams

take to the water in the South Coast Tournament.

The Sailors will host the Mustangs today at 3, while CdM hosts Long

Beach Poly, also at 3.

The Costa Mesa girls volleyball team hosts Ocean View today at 3:15

p.m.

The Corona del Mar girls tennis team looks to rebound from its tough

loss to superpower Peninsula today at 3:15 p.m. with a home contest

against Capistrano Valley.

Estancia’s girls tennis team will compete at El Modena at 3:15.

The Newport Harbor Field Hockey team will look to improve on its 4-0

record at Harvard-Westlake today at 3:15. The Sailors have not allowed a

goal, while scoring 15 goals in the process.

The Sailors are coming off a 1-0 win against Santa Ana Tuesday at

Harper School. Lauren Birchfield scored the game’s lone goal three

minutes into the second half, giving Newport the lead for good.

In girls golf action, Newport Harbor will take on El Dorado today at

Western Hills Country Club, while Long Beach Millikan takes on Estancia

at El Dorado Country Club. Both matches are set to begin at 2:30.