Girls volleyball: PAYBACK TIME

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - With not only a return trip to the CIF Division I

State Regional Finals on the line, defending state champ Newport Harbor

High girls’ volleyball will have another reason knock off Mater Dei in

tonight’s regional semifinals, set for 7 in the Sailors’ gym.

Revenge.

The Sailors (34-2) definitely remember the last time the Monarchs

(24-6) strolled into the Sailors’ house and celebrated with a massive

heap of players all over Newport’s floor after a four-game triumph over

the then-unbeaten Tars, 15-13, 7-15, 15-13, 15-7.

“They basically kicked our butts,” Sailors Coach Dan Glenn said

following the Oct. 15 loss. “They outserved us, outdug us, and outplayed

us.”

Now, 43 days and 29 games later, Glenn feels his team is ready for the

rematch.

“Our girls are extremely fired up for this one,” Glenn said. “It’s

going to be a great game and the girls are excited to get another shot at

‘em.”

Since that loss, all Newport Harbor has done is win 17 matches in a

row, including the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA title, where they

swept every team they faced.

“I think we’re playing much better as a team than the last time we

played them,” Glenn said. “We have far fewer holes than before.”

In the state tournament, the Sailors disposed of Poway, the San Diego

Section runner-up, 15-7, 15-9, 15-7.

The Sailors’ three-headed kill machine of seniors April Ross, Krista

Dill and junior Heather Cullen will have to play at the top of their game

in order for the team to be successful.

Glenn also believes that the play of Lisa Addeo on the right side

along with the passing of sophomore Katie King, will also be crucial for

success.

“Solid play from Lisa on the right side will really open it up for

us,” Glenn said. “And Katie has been doing a much better job passing the

ball as the season progressed.”

The Monarchs reached the CIF-SS Division I-A finals only to lose to

San Marcos in four games. They knocked off Torry Pines in the first round

of the state tournament, 15-7, 15-8, 15-8.

“They finished co-champs with Santa Margarita in the Serra League and

they have a solid ball club,” Glenn said.

The Monarchs are led by outside hitter Breegan Mulligan and senior

middle blocker Lindsay Pavlik.

“One of the biggest things we have to do is find a way to slow down

Breegan,” Glenn said. “When we played them, we couldn’t do anything to

stop her. We’re gonna have to dig and block much better against her.”

Mulligan had 19 kills and seven digs in the Monarchs’ first matchup

with the Sailors, while Havlik had 15 kills and a team-high 18 digs.

With the holiday weekend and the one-game experience of Mater Dei at

Newport’s gym, Glenn doesn’t think the home cooking will help too much.

“They always have such a strong following over there,” Glenn said.

“They obviously know how to win here and with the crowd that they bring,

they actually might have more on their side than us. I know it’s going to

be loud in there on both sides. Hopefully the holiday won’t keep the

crowd away.”

The strongest thing going for Glenn’s crew is the experience factor.

“We’ve played in Hawaii, Chicago and we’ve taken on some of the best

teams in the country,” Glenn said. “Now with each win, the competition

gets stronger and stronger and we’re excited to be here. That’s why we’ve

worked so hard.”