Newport Harbor Enjoys a Picture-Perfect Match

Newport Harbor Coach Dan Glenn knows strange things can happen when the Sailors meet Corona del Mar. Friday, something happened again. Glenn just missed it.

During Newport Harbor’s five-game victory at neighborhood rival Corona del Mar, a man attempted to steal Glenn’s $1,000 video camera, which was set up at one end of the gym to tape the Sea King-Sailor boys’ volleyball match.

“I heard my assistant coaches [Matt Schutz and Bryan Cottriel] went running after the guy,” Glenn said. “They were gone for about an hour. Turns out, the guy dumped the camera in his car and our guys found him.

“I guess the police came out and picked up the guy, and all this is going on during the match. I had no idea. I just had to sign a little police report after the match.”

Oh, and Glenn got his camera back too. “Just another chapter in this rivalry,” he said with a laugh.

PLAYOFF PAIRINGS

With the Southern Section playoffs expanded from three divisions to five, all based on enrollment, the Southland’s top programs are well spread out.

Corona del Mar, last season’s Division I champion, is seeded fourth in Division IV, and last season’s runner-up, Newport Harbor, is top-seeded in Division III. Last season’s Division I semifinalists, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa and Santa Margarita, are top-seeded in Division II and second-seeded in Division III.

Capistrano Valley, which lost to Corona del Mar in the first round of the Division I playoffs last season, is seeded second in Division I and Fountain Valley is seeded first.

WHEN NO. 1 ISN’T NO. 1

Division II, not Division I, appears to feature the strongest field, with Mira Costa heading the list of title contenders.

Orange County’s No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams, Foothill and Marina, are in Division II. Foothill and Irvine are in Mira Costa’s half of the draw, and Marina will have to contend with traditional powers Simi Valley Royal and Los Angeles Loyola in its half.

Marina is perhaps the county’s hottest team. Two weekends ago, the Vikings finished second at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions. Last week, Marina defeated Fountain Valley to earn a share of its fourth consecutive league title.

Marina is seeded third and Foothill fourth in Division II.

In Division III, heavyweights Newport Harbor and Santa Margarita should get a challenge from fourth-seeded Mater Dei, which extended the Eagles to five games in their last Serra League meeting.

In Division V, St. Margaret’s is the top-seeded team and Brethren Christian is seeded second.

First-round matches are Friday. The finals are May 26 at Cypress College.

If you have an item or idea for the boys’ volleyball report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at: mike.itagaki@latimes.com

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BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’

Final Poll

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Pos. School League Rec. 1. Foothill (1) Century 13-1 2. Marina (3) Sunset 18-3 3. Santa Margarita (4) Serra 15-3 4. Fountain Valley (2) Sunset 11-3 5. Cap. Valley (5) S. Coast 16-2 6. Irvine (6) Sea View 12-1 7. Newport Harbor (7) Sea View 11-7 8. Mater Dei (9) Serra 9-4 9. Ocean View (10) G. West 18-1 10. San Clemente (8) S. Coast 12-6

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