Newport Harbor owns Battle of Bay

CORONA DEL MAR — Friday night’s Battle of the Bay meant nothing in terms of league rankings, playoff berths or winning percentage. But from the start, the gym pulsated with playoff atmosphere and it was clear, this match meant everything to the girls’ volleyball players on the court and the fans in the seats.

Newport Harbor High held off rival Corona del Mar, winning in four games, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23, on senior night in front of a packed gym at CdM.

Going into the fourth and final game, Newport Harbor (22-7) had substantial momentum over a fading CdM side. But as Newport Harbor started looking at the finish line, leading, 21-15, CdM (17-7) dug deep and started coming back. A cross-court kill by senior Conley Kipp sparked a CdM 7-3 run to bring it within 24-22.

But like Newport Harbor has done all season long, it regained its composure, blocked out the crowd and let its hitting do the talking. Kirby Burnham finished off CdM with a kill that was followed by a scream and a Newport Harbor celebration at center court.

“It’s a huge deal,” Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn said. “It’s the city championship. You want to do well in league and playoffs, but this is the last time my seniors are gonna see Corona del Mar and it was great to finish with a win.”

However, the win did not come easily for Coach Glenn and his squad.

Newport Harbor lost its senior setter, Arielle Lysacek, in the first game to a severe ankle sprain and freshman setter, Cinnamon Sary, was brought in immediately to fill Lysacek’s big shoes.

She did just that.

Newport Harbor squeaked out a Game 1 win, 25-23, and showed its ability to adjust to the unfortunate injury to its star setter.

But CdM made a statement of its own in the second game.

Each team put everything on the line throughout the match, but there was no denying the Sea Kings in that second game. After going back and forth throughout, Sydney Brombal scored three of CdM’s last five points to secure the Game 2 win and even the match at one game apiece.

But any momentum CdM had after Game 2 was quickly wiped out by Newport Harbor’s Katey Thompson in Game 3. Thompson dominated the net early and scored the first five points for the Sailors and effectively knocked the wind out of CdM.

Newport Harbor kept piling on the kills, lengthening the lead to 19-10 and making the otherwise boistrous CdM crowd go silent.

Newport Harbor closed out the Sea Kings, 25-16, in Game 3 and ended up closing out the match in the fourth and final game.

“That’s a great win for us.” Glenn said. “Everybody came in and did a great job. We played four matches this week and I feeL like we played our best volleyball of the season at the end here.”

Newport Harbor ended up finishing second to Los Alamitos in the Sunset League, while CdM came into Friday’s match after winning the Pacific Coast League on Thursday night.

Newport Harbor’s Thompson finished her regular season on a high note, dominating at the net with 13 kills and six blocks.

But Corona del Mar’s Brombal ended the match as the kills leader at 16 with Newport Harbor’s Mackenzi Campbell and Mary Buckingham finishing right behind her with 14.

Both teams are waiting to find out their CIF Southern Section playoff pairings which are announced on Sunday. Newport Harbor heads into the CIF Division I-AA playoffs. The Sailors finished the regular season ranked No. 7 in their division.

Corona del Mar will enter the CIF Southern Section Division II-AA playoffs. The Sea Kings ended the regular season ranked No. 4 in their division.