Virgen: Dynamic duo gives back

Misty May-Treanor stands with her hands on her hips in a bikini with also her game-face on in a poster ad created to help the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball program.

In the background, April Ross stands in the same pose, also wearing a bikini. They are on what appears to be a catwalk covered in sand. The image also has a gold medal and a silver medal from the 2012 Olympics.

The poster was made for the upcoming, “Style In Sports,” a fundraiser fashion show for the Newport Harbor High girls’ volleyball program.

May-Treanor, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in beach volleyball, and Ross, a silver medalist, are among Newport Harbor alumni giving back and volunteering as part of the event that takes place Sept. 22 at the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa.

It should be a fun event.

Evelyn Yardley, the community chair for the fundraiser, is excited the program’s most popular players are returning to be in the fashion show.

They held the fashion show last year, but it didn’t fit into the duo’s schedule, Yardley said.

Last year around 100 people showed up to the event. This year 400 are expected to attend, Yardley said.

Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased through the Newport Harbor High team’s website at https://www.newportharborvolleyball.com/girlsHomeCourt.php.

“This is another way for the program to raise funds, other than our ad program,” Yardley said. “And, it’s something fun for the girls to participate in. Our senior and junior players will be a part of it.”

Yardley is glad to help. Her daughter, Kierstyn, will be a junior on the team. Kierstyn is the daughter of Bill Yardley, a former Newport Harbor star who went on to be an All-American at USC and a U.S. national team member in volleyball. His uncle is the famous George Yardley, the Basketball Hall of Famer who played at Newport Harbor.

Yardley said Kirby Burnham, Cinnamon Sary and Mackenzi Campbell are among the alumni returning to be a part of the fashion show and wear items presented by Surfside among other designers.

Burnham and Sary play sand volleyball at USC, and Campbell plays indoor at UC Irvine. Burnham won the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. national title this past year.

The event will also have a red-carpet entry and a local dealership will have convertible Bentleys for May-Treanor and Ross to enter in style.

Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry is also expected to attend to deliver a proclamation for the beach volleyball stars, who were both coached by Dan Glenn, who remains as coach of the team.

Glenn has been proud of both, watching them grow and become outstanding volleyball players on the beach. May-Treanor’s legendary career came to an end after the Olympics.

Ross’ career continues. In fact, she’s expected to team up with May-Treanor’s former teammate Kerri Walsh Jennings with the intention of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics.

Pretty incredible to have them both coming back to give back to the program at their alma mater.

Both players remain role models at Newport Harbor. May-Treanor graduated from there in 1995 and led the Sailors to two CIF State championships in her time, and then went on to win a national title at Long Beach State.

Ross won a CIF state championship at Newport Harbor in 1998 and then went on to star at USC, leading the Trojans to back-to-back national titles in 2002 and 2003.

“Playing at Newport taught me how to work hard,” Ross told me back then. “I learned that you can’t breeze through games, you always have to work hard, that’s what Dan Glenn hammered to me. I definitely still have that with me today.”

May-Treanor and Ross usually don’t hold back to help out the program. Ross is known for practicing with the team in the past and motivating Newport Harbor players to perform at their best.

Next month they’ll be helping in a different way, modeling in bikinis and other outfits to support the Sailors.