On the road again

Richard Dunn

In high school girls volleyball, the state tournament provides new

meaning to a team’s postseason definition, and for Coach Dan Glenn’s

Newport Harbor Sailors, the top seed in the CIF Southern Section

Division II-AA Playoffs, a berth is on the line tonight as they

travel to Mark Keppel of Alhambra in a semifinal match at 7 o’clock.

Coach Bill Christiansen’s Corona del Mar Sea Kings, meanwhile, hit

the road as well in their CIF Division III-A semifinal. Mission

League champion and second-seeded Harvard-Westlake (22-4) will square

off against third-seeded CdM at 7 p.m.

Combined, the Back Bay schools will travel about 210 miles, but in the CIF State Championships, the top seed stays at home for every

match, unlike the CIF Southern Section Playoffs, in which the top

seed in Division II-AA will play its second straight road match with

considerable miles.

“It’s kind of a bummer to be the No. 1 seed, play the first

(playoff) game at home, then never be at home again,” Glenn said. “I

totally agree with that article in the Daily Pilot (Sunday).”

While the CIF Playoffs schedule might not be doing the Sailors any

favors, tonight’s visitor (24-6) at Keppel will be favored to advance

to the CIF Finals, which will probably be Saturday at Cypress

College.

“If we win (tonight), we’re in the state tournament -- to me

that’s the most important thing,” Glenn said. “In football and boys

volleyball, you go as far as you can go (in the CIF Playoffs), but in

girls volleyball it’s basically a qualification tournament to get to

the state tournament ... I’m not downplaying (the semifinal against

Keppel), but in order to get to the state tournament, you need to

play in the CIF Finals. We want to get in that state tournament.”

Newport Harbor, which could be seeded first in the state Division

II tournament if it wins the CIF Division II-AA title, has been led

all season by 6-foot-3 senior middle blocker Kristin McClune and

junior outside hitters Alyson Jennings and Lauren Miller. The Sailors

have lost 6-foot freshman middle blocker Bryana Carey for the season

with a broken finger. Senior Shelley Langford has replaced her in the

starting lineup. Keppel is 16-2.

Sophomore Kiley Hall and junior Elizabeth Clayton have also

provided some exciting moments on the floor for the Sailors in the

playoffs.

In the team’s 15-9, 15-4, 15-12 quarterfinal victory over host

Cathedral City, McClune paced the Tars with 19 kills, while Miller

added 10.

Corona del Mar (19-8), which is playing for a berth in the state

Division III tournament, was spearheaded by 6-foot senior outside

hitter Claire Allen (16 kills) in the Sea Kings’ 15-9, 15-0, 15-7 quarterfinal victory over previously unbeaten Santa Ynez.