Gotta love that gift

NEWPORT BEACH — Tunes blared out of the car parked next to the Newport Harbor High tennis courts.

Songs from Kanye West, Christina Aguilera and DMX came out the back of the open hatchback. Even football players practicing on the adjacent field could be heard singing along.

But these songs weren’t for football, they were for the Newport Harbor High girls’ tennis team as its players warmed up for their nonleague match Wednesday against Foothill. Maybe not traditional tennis protocol, especially when first-year co-coach Kristen Case was one of the ones who sung along the loudest.

The Sailors, however, clearly know how to have a good time. That was apparent before, during and after their 15-3 win over the Knights.

During the match, Newport Harbor (2-0) was dominant against Foothill (1-2), its former Sea View League opponent. Seniors Alex McIntosh and Emily Gelbaum and junior Liz Cramer all swept in singles, as did seniors Allie Shea and Avalon Sigalos at No. 1 doubles.

“It’s an older team,” Shea said. “We have seven seniors, and we know each other really well. I think that just builds our confidence. We know how to just go out there and get ‘er done.”

And it was after the match that the players from Newport Harbor sang “Happy Birthday” to the energetic Case, who turned 25 on Wednesday — although the joke was to wish Case a happy 40th birthday.

Plenty of laughs to go around, for sure.

“It’s a pretty amazing thing to see,” Case said after she wiped some wayward cake frosting from her mouth. “They have a lot of fun together and they work hard together. They all really fill their own roles perfectly. If they’re cheering that day, they cheer. If they have to go out and play, they play hard. It just says a lot about their character.”

Newport seniors Brittany Sowers and Kristen Kahn won a set at No. 2 doubles, and the No. 3 doubles team of juniors Ariana Cernius and Lexy Longman won twice.

Their second win was the last match of the day to end. Cernius and Longman lost a 5-2 games lead but held on for a 7-6 (7-3) victory over Foothill’s team of Lily Randall and Dianne Nicholson.

Matches like that can build experience, although the Sailors already have plenty of that with their team of only juniors and seniors. Gelbaum, McIntosh and Cramer — the Sailors’ three singles players — have known each other since they were very young.

“Since preschool and before,” Gelbaum said. “It’s crazy.”

When she won the girls’ 18 singles title at the Costa Mesa Summer Junior Classic this year, McIntosh credited Case for her support.

Wednesday, Gelbaum also had similarly positive things to say about the impact that the Newport Harbor girls’ tennis alumna is having on the program.

“I love it, it’s been so great,” Gelbaum said. “The support from Kristen has been amazing. She’s been so inspiring. It just makes everyone really excited about it, instead of it being like an obligation. You’re more excited to get on the court.”

While on the court, the players wear blue bracelets that say “Believe in the beast.”

“You’re a beast” has become one of the team’s sayings, and it was on a birthday sign that the players had constructed for Case.

“They call me Mama Beast,” Case said.

Newport Harbor plays host to Northwood today.

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 15, Foothill 3

SINGLES – McIntosh (NH) def. Stryker, 6-0, def. Tackett, 6-0, def. Williamson, 6-2; Gelbaum (NH) won, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1; Cramer (NH) won, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.

DOUBLES – Shea-Sigalos (NH) def. Katzman-Seeds, 6-3, def. Randall-Nicholson, 6-0, def. Clear-Fiorvanti, 6-0; (sub) Frei-Strutner (NH) lost, 1-6, Sowers-Kahn (NH) won, 6-0, lost, 4-6; Cernius-Longman (NH) won, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), lost, 3-6.