Tars, Eagles open postseason tonight

Barry Faulkner

While forbidden the last two seasons from seeking the ultimate

challenge of Division I postseason competition, Newport Harbor High

boys volleyball coach Dan Glenn made no secret of his desire to

return to the penthouse of the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

Beginning tonight at 7 with a first-round Division I match against

visiting Long Beach Poly, Glenn and his Sailors are now hoping to

stave off an early eviction notice.

Meanwhile, Estancia High, absent from the playoffs since 1994,

begins what is expected to be an extended Division III run as the No.

3 seed against visiting Century.

Coach Tracey Heims’ Eagles (26-10), co-champions of the Golden

West League, don’t figure to get much trouble from the Centurions

(6-10). And there is more than the vast disparity in records to back

this assumption, since Estancia pounded the Orange League’s

third-place team, 15-2, 15-6, 15-2, in the Eagles’ season opener

March 3.

Sea View League co-champion Newport Harbor (19-11), however, should face a solid challenge from the Jackrabbits (26-11), who won

the Division II title at the Orange County Championships, then

finished third in the Moore League, behind Millikan (29-5) and Long

Beach Wilson (26-11).

The Sailors lost to Royal in the Division II quarterfinals last

season, after reaching the Division III semifinals in 2001.

Glenn said his team is peaking at the right time, but is unsure

how long that can sustain his Tars in the rugged Division I bracket.

“We’re playing our best volleyball, but I don’t know if that’s the

greatest volleyball,” said Glenn, whose Sailors defeated Sea View

co-champion Woodbridge and Back Bay rival Corona del Mar for two of

their three victories last week.

The Sailors are led by 6-foot-8 junior middle blocker Jamie

Diefenbach, as well as senior outside hitter Michael Toole and

seniors Michael McDonald, Nick Glassic and Paul Toman. Junior setter

Adam Schlesinger has also progressed as the Tars’ trigger man and his

development must continue for the team to reach its potential.

“Whatever happens, happens, and we’re not going to whine about

it,” Glenn said of the return to Division I, brought about by a

change in section bylaws. “Our kids are excited about the opportunity

to play a really good team. And, if we get by this first one, we’ll

play the No. 2-seeded team in San Clemente.

San Clemente (26-1) will most likely be in attendance tonight,

since the Tritons, who finished the regular-season ranked No. 1 in

Orange County, have a first-round bye.

The South Coast League champions will likely be rooting for the

Sailors, with whom they have a score to settle. Newport eliminated

San Clemente in the second round last season and also ended the

Tritons’ postseason in 2000.

Estancia, led by junior outside hitters Kris Hartwell and Josh

Kornegay, won a share of the program’s first league championship

since 1984. The Eagles have also received consistent contributions

from sophomore setter Trevor Holmes and junior outside hitter Brad

Larsen.

Long Beach Poly, with no player taller than 6-4, has split two

tournament meetings against Sea View League foes this season. The

Jackrabbits defeated Foothill, 15-9, 15-7, March 15, and lost to

Irvine, 15-4, 15-4, one week later.

Newport swept both Foothill and Irvine in two league meetings.

Corona del Mar, champion of the Pacific Coast League and the No. 2

seed in Division II, will take advantage of a first-round bye, hoping

to allow 6-7 senior middle blocker Eric Jones and senior outside

hitter Bart Welch, both recovering from sprained ankles, to return to

the lineup.

Coach Steve Conti’s Sea Kings (17-11), will face the winner of

Friday’s first-round clash between Arrowhead Christian (31-1) and

Canyon of Anaheim (10-13) in Tuesday’s second round. Canyon won the

Division III title last season, but returned only one starter.

If victorious, Estancia would square off against either Orange

Lutheran or Warren in Tuesday’s second round.