Newport Harbor finds its inner Bessie Smith

All Dan Glenn needed Sunday was a pair of sunglasses and a guitar.

After the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball coach learned of his team’s fate in the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs, he felt like singing the blues.

The Sailors (23-3) ended the season ranked No. 3 in the final CIF Division I-AA coaches’ poll, but they are the No. 4 seed in the playoffs, on the same side of the bracket as top-seeded Mira Costa (29-0).

Newport Harbor will play host to Palos Verdes Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the first round.

Redondo Union finished second in the Bay League to Mira Costa, and that’s why Glenn thinks Redondo Union received the No. 3 seed.

The Seahawks cannot be in the same side of the bracket because they played in the same league as Mira Costa, per a CIF rule, Glenn said. But the Sailors defeated Redondo Union at the Durango Fall Classic in Las Vegas on Oct. 6. The Seahawks ended the season No. 4 in the coaches’ poll.

Vista Murrieta, which defeated Newport Harbor in the Dave Mohs Tournament, received the No. 2 seed in the CIF Division I-AA playoffs.

“It’s pretty disappointing to be where we’re at,” said Glenn, whose team won a share of the Sunset League title and went into the playoffs as the league’s top-seeded team. “I just gave my kids some bad information. I told them they had to win out to get that No. 3 seed and we didn’t get it. We’re trying to qualify for the state tournament. I don’t want to sound like I’m singing the blues. I think it’s just kind of one of those things.”

They hope to advance to face the winner of the Long Beach Wilson-Royal match in the second round on Thursday.

In Division II-AA, Corona del Mar (14-8) received the No. 3 seed and will have a first round bye. The Pacific Coast League champion Sea Kings will play the Troy-vs.-Channel Islands winner in the second round Thursday.

Estancia (18-11) is also in Division II-AA and will host Rowland Tuesday at 7 p.m. Estancia finished second in the Orange Coast League to Laguna Beach, which is the top seed in theDivision II-AA playoffs.

In Division IV-AA, Sage Hill (8-18) will play at Mary Star of the Sea in the first round Tuesday at 7 p.m. in San Pedro. Sage Hill finished second in the Academy League to St. Margaret’s, the No. 3 seed in the division. Mayfield, the Prep League champion, is the top seed.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.