Girls volleyball: Sailors leave their mark

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Others could sense it coming by watching Newport

Harbor High’s girls volleyball team in the playoffs, but visiting

Westlake was blindsided Tuesday night in the CIF Southern Section

Division II-AA semifinals.

Following Newport Harbor’s win over Saugus in the quarterfinals,

Saugus Coach Bobbie Estes had this prediction for the Sailors’ semifinal

match against Westlake: “I think (the Sailors) are going to blow them

out.”

The Sailors (21-9), who have come on strong since losing to Irvine in

the Sea View League, swept Westlake’s Warriors, 15-3, 15-4, 15-5 to

advance to the CIF Division II-AA championship match against top-seeded

Mira Costa either Friday or Saturday at Cypress College.

Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn, who believes section officials will

stage the Division II-AA final Saturday because both schools have a

seeded football team in the playoffs Friday, said his squad’s 60-minute

victory over Westlake was “the best we’ve played all year.”

Kristen McClune, a 6-foot-3 junior middle blocker, led Newport with 11

kills and six solo blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Alyson Jennings

finished with 13 kills to lead the hitting as the Sailors also earned a

berth in the state tournament.

“You work hard with a group, and you know what they’re capable of

doing, and it was nice to see that tonight,” said Glenn, whose team was

also led by 6-1 senior setter/opposite Christine Woller (13 digs and 11

kills) and senior outside hitter Andrea Trinen (12 digs).

Newport Harbor, which has not allowed an opponent more than seven

points in any of its nine postseason games (three matches following a

first-round bye), dominated all three games against Marmonte League

champion Westlake (27-3).

“We ran into a buzz saw tonight,” Westlake Coach Doug Magorien said.

“(The Sailors) knew what they needed to do to get to state. We’ve never

experienced anything like that before. They have nine losses, but those

nine losses are to very tough teams. They have great skill and desire. I

don’t think we were ready for them.”

Newport broke out with a 5-0 lead in the first game, then enjoyed a

big run as its way to a 14-2 edge. During one rally, resulting in a

sideout for Newport, setter Katie King made a sensational save, before

McClune punched it over the net. Westlake, which appeared stunned by

King’s dig, could not return it back.

Jennings had seven of her kills in the first game, while Woller and

senior middle blocker Liz Lord had five each.

Behind excellent serving from Woller and Trinen, Newport rolled to a

10-0 lead in the second game.

In the third game, the Tars had a 9-0 edge to open matters, but

Westlake rallied to pull within four, forcing Glenn to use his only

timeout of the match. Newport scored the next six points without an

answer.