Corona del Mar, Newport Harbor Meet Again--This Time for Title

Corona del Mar-Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball matches are beginning to take on preposterous proportions.

“When we beat Los Altos, people kept asking me, is (our opponent) Harbor, is it Harbor?” said Jennifer Stroffe, Corona del Mar senior outside hitter. “Everyone was going crazy. It’s scary, like USC and UCLA in the Final Four.”

Four months ago, who would have thought Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor, the two top-ranked teams in the nation according to USA Today, would meet four times, with a State Division I title--tonight at Cal State Fullerton--on the line in the end?

“Insane,” Stroffe said. “I didn’t think we’d play four times. It shows the caliber of athletes in this area. Two teams from the same league in the State final? I never would have believed it.”

Believe that this match marks the first time two teams from the same league, Sea View League in this case, have vied for a State title. Although it’s the second consecutive year Orange County teams have played for the Division I prize. Last year, Corona del Mar won its third State title when it defeated Laguna Beach, another top-ranked team the Sea Kings played four times this season.

Newport Harbor holds a 2-1 edge this season against Corona del Mar, but Coach Lance Stewart insisted from the start that his Sea Kings would win when it counted most, at the section and State levels, and he hasn’t made a fool of himself to date.

Corona del Mar is anchored by senior threats Kim Coleman, Kristen Campbell, Caitlin Pickart and Stroffe. With Sara Warmington the only senior on Newport Harbor’s roster, defending Division III State champions features a lineup chock-full of juniors, including outside hitters Misty May and Sara Fairborn and middle blocker Melissa Schutz.

So Newport Harbor is a year younger, but when does heart supersede talent and experience?

“The team with the most heart, when it’s on the line,” Stroffe said. “I think that’s the team that will win.”

Stroffe said the fact the Sea Kings have 10 seniors who are playing their last high school match should play in their favor.

“It should make a bit of a impact, hopefully we’ll play like we’ll never play again,” she said. “Harbor may not feel like that, like they have another year. Then again, they have the big revenge factor. And I know what it’s like to lose.”

In Division IV, Calvary Chapel will try for its first State volleyball title when it meets San Jose Archbishop Mitty, which is also making its first State appearance.

The Eagles have their work cut out for them because Archbishop Mitty has three players 6 feet or taller. For the Division V Southern Section champion Calvary Chapel, junior outside hitter Courtney Owens, who led her team in kills all season, played with a torn stomach muscle for three weeks, but is close to full strength. Sara Roberts and Lynn Lovingier are other offensive standouts for the Eagles.

Today’s Volleyball Title Matches

What: State girls’ volleyball championships

Where: Cal State Fullerton, Titan Gym

Who: Division I--Corona del Mar (30-3) vs. Newport Harbor (32-2) and Division IV--Calvary Chapel (22-1) vs. San Jose Archbishop Mitty (28-6)

When: Today, 11 a.m. (Division IV) and 7 p.m. (Division I)

Head to head: Corona del Mar leads the series, which started in 1977; Newport Harbor leads the 1993 series, 2-1. The Sailors won this season’s two league matches, 9-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-5, 16-14 and 15-10, 15-13, 5-15, 18-16, and Corona del Mar won the Division I Southern Section title Nov. 20, 10-15, 15-3, 17-15, 15-8. . . . It’s the first meeting for Calvary Chapel and Archbishop Mitty.

Facts and Figures: Corona del Mar has the chance to distinguish itself as the first team to win four State volleyball titles in any division. Going into the title match, the Sea Kings are tied with Manhattan Beach Mira Costa (Division I), Lake Arrowhead Rim of the World and La Habra (Division II) and San Diego Francis Parker (Division III), all with three apiece. Corona del Mar also has the chance to win back-to-back Division I titles for the first since Irvine in 1987-88. . . . Only two Southern California girls’ teams have won four State titles in any sport; Corona del Mar would join the Brea-Olinda and San Diego Point Loma basketball teams in the record books. (Northern California’s Berkeley High has won five track championships.) A victory by Newport Harbor would make the Sailors the first-ever girls’ team to jump divisions and win consecutive championships--they won the Division III crown in 1992. . . . A victory for Calvary Chapel would give the Olympic League its third State title in a row, on the heels of back-to-back Division V crowns for Capistrano Valley Christian.