STATE VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : DIVISION III : Newport Harbor Gets Drop on First State Championship

After losing in five games to Laguna Beach in the Southern Section Division I girls’ volleyball semifinals two weeks ago, Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn told his players they would drop to Division III for the CIF State playoffs.

Then, one of Glenn’s younger players asked:

“What’s CIF?”

It turned out to be a second chance and a first State championship for the top-seeded Sailors, who swept Aptos, 15-8, 15-4, 15-12, in the final Saturday at Cal State Fullerton.

Led by sophomore Misty May’s 18 kills and freshman setter Jenny Hecker’s 40 assists and 12 digs, Newport Harbor (19-4) won its first title in three championship appearances.

The Sailors lost to Mira Costa in the 1985 Division I final and to Irvine in 1987.

“This feels great,” said Glenn, who coached the 1985 team. “I’ve been on the other end of this before.”

Newport Harbor remained in Division III this season instead of moving up to Division I in the enrollment-based State playoffs, as it had in past seasons. Glenn said his young starting lineup (four sophomores, a freshman and a senior) prompted him to stay in Division III.

Glenn said he thought the Sailors played some of their best volleyball during the Division I section playoffs. But they dominated Division III, losing only one game in four State and regional playoff matches.

“We were three points away (from beating Laguna Beach) and getting another shot at Corona del Mar, which is how we base our season,” Glenn said. “We see teams like Corona and Laguna all the time. Then, all of a sudden, we’re playing Atascadero and Aptos, teams we haven’t seen before.

“It was easier for me to get the kids up for a Rachel Wacholder and Laguna Beach. You’re more fired up to play teams you know.”

Newport Harbor started slowly in the three games against Aptos but rallied with big scoring runs in each.

The Sailors trailed, 3-1, in the first game before scoring 14 of the next 19 points to win. They used a 14-1 run to overcome the same deficit in the second game and a 10-0 run to take an 11-4 lead in the third.

But Aptos came back to tie it, 12-12, before a hitting error, an ace by Hecker and an Aptos violation gave Newport Harbor the match.

Sophomore Melissa Schutz had nine kills, including three in a row in Newport Harbor’s run in the second game. Senior Dani Foley added 11 kills for the Sailors. Chaska Potter had eight kills for Aptos (38-8).

Aptos Coach Christa Cook said she didn’t tell her players of Newport Harbor’s reputation.

“I didn’t tell you this,” she said to them. “But Newport went five games with (top-ranked) Corona del Mar this season. Newport Harbor is one of the powerhouses in volleyball in the country. It will help you for the rest of your life to go up against them and find out you can play with them.”

All-tournament team: Trisha Grizich (Aptos), Chaska Potter (Aptos), Misty May (Newport Harbor), Melissa Schutz (Newport Harbor), Dani Foley (Newport Harbor), Jenny Hecker (Newport Harbor).