SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION I : Newport Harbor Isn’t Hospitable in Sweeping to Victory

Newport Harbor girls’ volleyball Coach Dan Glenn knows what it’s like to be on the road for the holidays, because that’s where the Sailors were a year ago.

Now he’s getting accustomed to playing host.

The top-seeded Sailors weren’t very hospitable to Rancho Bernardo as they swept the Broncos, 15-1, 15-1, 15-5, in a Southern California Regional quarterfinal match Saturday night at Newport Harbor High.

The Sailors (31-1) next play host to Santa Cruz Harbor, which defeated Santa Rosa 15-8, 15-11, 15-2, in the semifinals on Tuesday.

“I am just happy to be playing at home after being on the road last year,” Glenn said. “And it’s great to be this far in the State (playoffs).”

Last season at this time, Newport Harbor was leaving for Stockton to play its semifinal match against St. Mary’s after defeating Poway on the road.

The Sailors won that match in four games before losing to top-seeded Corona del Mar in the championship.

“It’s tough traveling on the road over Thanksgiving weekend,” Glenn said.

Third-seeded Rancho Bernardo (27-12) came from fourth place in its league to win the San Diego Section Division I title, but the Broncos were in trouble from the start against Newport Harbor.

Tina Bowman and Misty May had kills to give the Sailors a quick 2-0 lead. Bowman then added another spike and blocked a Bronco kill for a 5-0 advantage.

The Sailors increased their lead to 13-0 before Rancho Bernardo got a point when May slammed her spike off the net.

Newport Harbor came back with a kill from Josie Hecker and May then finished Game 1 with her sixth kill of the game.

The Sailors continued to roll in the second game, jumping to an 11-0 lead on seven Bronco ball-handling and hitting errors.

Rancho Bernardo then got its second point of the match on a lift call, but two hitting errors and two more Newport Harbor kills closed out Game 2.

All of the Sailor starters were on the floor to open Game 3, but were substituted for one by one as the team pulled out to another big lead.