BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL : Gan Family May Have Saved the Best for Last

Dan Glenn could count on two things during his first five seasons as Newport Harbor’s volleyball coach--fielding competitive teams and having a member of the Gan clan in the lineup.

Darryl Gan was the first of Richard and Ana Gan’s four children who played for the Sailors. A right-side hitter, he helped Newport Harbor reach the Southern Section semifinals in 1986.

Then came Jason, a back-row player on the Sailors’ 1987 section championship team.

Their sister, Anjanette, played from 1986 to ‘89, helping the Sailors to a section title and the State finals as a sophomore.

And last is Russell Gan, a 6-foot senior setter who might be the best of the lot.

“My girls’ team this fall was the first time I haven’t had a Gan on my team,” Glenn said. “It’s a great family, and their parents are super. Russell is the last one; we’ll miss them.”

Russell started playing volleyball as a fifth-grader, tagging along with his brothers and sister to clinics and practices at the Balboa Bay Club. He didn’t like the sport at first, but developed a knack for setting, and played for two of the club’s age-group national championship teams.

He also was a regular spectator at Sailor matches, following the high school careers of Darryl and Jason. “I used to see him there all the time,” Glenn said. “And I said, ‘That kid is going to be my setter for four years.’ Well, he almost did it--he was on the varsity for three years.”

After a season on the junior varsity, Gan joined the varsity as a sophomore and started the last half of the season. As a junior, he earned all-section first-team honors after leading the Sailors to the 4-A finals, where they lost to top-seeded San Marcos.

Gan and three other starters--hitters Justin McIntee and Mark McAnlis and middle blocker Frank Griffo--return from last season’s team that finished 16-4.

“We didn’t have much pressure on us last year,” Gan said. “We were all juniors, and no one expected us to do very well. But we knew we were good, and we knew we would go far in the playoffs.”

This year, expectations have changed. The Sailors are top-ranked in the 4-A preseason coaches’ poll, and they’re playing a rough nonleague schedule that includes Manhattan Beach Mira Costa, Edison, Marina, Huntington Beach, Dana Hills and Laguna Beach.

So far, Newport Harbor is 2-0 with victories over fourth-ranked Edison and unranked Marina. The Sailors meet Huntington Beach in a nonleague match tonight and play host to the eight-team Orange County Championships Saturday.

“We have a tough schedule,” Gan said, “no doubt about it. But I think it will prepare us for the (Sea View) league season.”

Gan has become a quiet, steady leader for the Sailors. “As a setter, I should probably be more vocal,” said Gan, a team captain. “That’s one of the things I lack.”

Said Glenn: “Russell isn’t as quiet as he used to be. He has opened up a little bit. He’s a really strong player, mentally and physically.”

Volleyball Notes

Newport Harbor will be without starting outside hitter Beau Sheward, who has been ruled academically ineligible. Sheward, a 6-2 senior, could return in April if his grades improve.

Estancia’s Matt Fuerbringer, who has signed with Stanford for volleyball, will get a late start on the season after leading the Eagles’ basketball team to the section finals and into the regional playoffs. . . . Dave Castle takes over as Estancia’s coach, replacing Tom Pestolesi, now a coach at Irvine Valley College.

Kurt Kersten is the new coach at Esperanza, the defending Empire League champion, which returns five starters from last season’s 18-1 team. . . . Whittier Christian has seven players back from last year’s section 2-A and Olympic League title team, including four starters.