Girls volleyball: Newport advances to semifinals

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - There are no down years for the Newport Harbor High

girls volleyball program, only seasons of contending for championships.

Or at least that’s what Saugus Coach Bobbie Estes believes.

Estes, whose Foothill League champion Centurions traveled 2 1/2 hours

one way, lasted less than an hour against second-seeded host Newport

Harbor in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA

playoffs Saturday night.

Even though Saugus entered with an imposing 22-3 record, Estes said

she wasn’t surprised by the Sailors’ seemingly easy 15-7, 15-6, 15-4 victory.

“I know Danny (Glenn),” Estes said of the Sailors’ longtime coach,

“and I watch Newport Harbor year after year, and I know (the Sailors) go

to state and all their players play club. A lot of our girls play club,

too, but it’s not the same level.”

Newport Harbor (20-9), the Sea View League co-champion, was pushed by

Saugus early. But, after a 7-7 tie in the first game, the Tars rallied

behind 6-foot-3 junior middle blocker Kristen McClune, who finished with

a match-high 13 kills and five service aces, including an ace to cap the

59-minute quarterfinal.

“I thought McClune served great,” said Glenn, whose team has not

allowed its two playoff opponents more than seven points in any of the

six games.

The Sailors will face third-seeded Westlake in the semifinals Tuesday

at a site to be determined by a coin flip today.

Saugus has played Westlake’s Warriors twice this season in

tournaments, and Estes provided her opinion on the upcoming semifinal: “I

think (the Sailors) are going to blow them out.”

In addition to McClune’s big effort, Newport was also led by senior

Andrea Trinen (10 kills), sophomore Alyson Jennings and senior middle

blocker Liz Lord (nine kills and a match-high eight digs).

“This is the right time of the year to be playing well,” Glenn said.