Sailors eye CIF crown

Richard Dunn

Newport Harbor High girls volleyball coach Dan Glenn has no

control over how schools are separated by divisions in the CIF

Southern Section Playoffs.

But this year he’s certainly not complaining.

Glenn and his Newport Harbor Sailors, seeded first in CIF Division

II-AA, will square off against CIF Finals newcomer Westlake today in

the Division II-AA title match at Cypress College at 1 p.m.

The Sailors, aiming for their seventh CIF championship in the

sport and fourth in six years, lost to top-seeded Mira Costa in three

games last year in the Division II-AA championship match, but the

Manhattan Beach-based Mustangs moved up to Division I-A this year.

“I think (our experience in the CIF Finals) is a pretty big

advantage, if they kind of remember, but once the match starts, it’s

not that big of an advantage,” Glenn said. “It just helps in

preparation, knowing what you’re getting into, and I think it helps

in getting the kids to be a little more comfortable. We’re focusing

on volleyball instead of everything else.

“And this is a close match for us, because we’ve been on the road

the last two matches. This is only a 25-minute bus ride, so this is

nothing. It’s kind of like a home match. We’re excited about playing.

And the good thing is that we’ll probably get a home match on Tuesday

(in the first round of the CIF State Division II Tournament).”

Newport Harbor (25-6) played at home in the first round and swept

Sultana, then traveled to Cathedral City in the quarterfinals and

Mark Keppel of Alhambra in the semifinals.

“That (Keppel) team we played in the semifinals wasn’t very big,

but they were digging everything,” Glenn said. “Actually, with that

kind of an opponent, it was good for us to play them, because this

(Westlake) team is kind of the opposite. (The Westlake Village-based

Warriors) are not as good defensively, but they’ve got some size. It

will be a different style of volleyball and we’ll be the smaller

opponent. The kids are fired up. It should be fun.”

Jessica Harper, a 6-foot-2 senior middle blocker, and Rachel

Smith, a 6-0 junior middle blocker, will create an interesting

confrontation at the net against Newport Harbor’s Kristin McClune, a

6-3 middle blocker. The Marmonte League champion Warriors also have

five players at 5-10 and two at 5-9.

In addition to McClune, the Sea View League champion Sailors are

led by junior outside hitters Alyson Jennings and Lauren Miller,

while setter Kellie King and outside hitters Elizabeth Clayton,

Whitney George and Kiley Hall usually round out the starting lineup.

Senior middle blocker Shelley Langford has replaced freshman Bryana

Carey (broken finger) in the rotation.

Westlake (22-3), seeded second, was swept by Newport Harbor last

year in the Division II-AA semifinals.