Boys volleyball: Tars No. 1 seed, CdM No. 4

Barry Faulkner

CERRITOS - Unlike the last two seasons, there won’t be a Back Bay

showdown for a CIF Southern Section boys volleyball championship this

spring. But, despite competing in separate divisions, per a mandate that

schools remain aligned with postseason foes with like enrollment, both

Newport Harbor High and Corona del Mar are among those favored to make

long playoff runs.

Coach Dan Glenn’s Sailors (11-7), who defeated CdM in the 1999 CIF

Division I final, earned the top seed in Division III, though they were

ranked No. 2 in last week’s division poll.

Coach Steve Conti’s Sea Kings (12-6), who topped Newport Harbor to win

last year’s Division I crown, are seeded No. 4 in Division IV, after

being ranked No. 3 in last week’s division poll.

Both local teams received first-round byes, meaning they won’t play

again until May 15. This news, along with their seedings and draws, was

received well by both coaches Monday, after playoff pairings were

announced at the section office.

“We’re excited,” Glenn said. “I don’t know about the seed, but we

figured we’d be on the same side of the bracket as (No. 4-seeded) Mater

Dei. It won’t be like it would have been in Division I, but I don’t think

our kids are thinking about that as much as I am.

“I’m glad about the bye, because I think it gives us, especially Blake

(Tippett, who missed one match last week with what was first thought to

be mononucleosis) a chance to get a little rest.”

The Sailors, who practiced Monday but won’t practice today, will host

either Valencia or Charter Oak, which play Friday at Valencia, in a May

15 second-round match scheduled for 7 p.m.

Conti, who gave his team Monday off after learning of the first-round

bye, will host Friday combatants Gabrielino or Western in a May 15

second-round clash at 7 p.m.

“We’re where I thought we would be,” said Conti, who is on the

opposite side of the bracket from No. 2-seeded Santa Ynez. The Sea Kings,

who shared the Pacific Coast League crown with Northwood this season,

beat Santa Ynez in the Division III final in ‘98, after the Pirates

topped them in the Division III title match in ’97.

“Santa Ynez held that No. 1 spot for most of the season and it may

have the best talent,” Conti said.

Newport enters the playoffs with momentum, after outlasting CdM in a

five-game nonleague showdown Friday.

“That was huge for our seniors and for me,” Glenn said of the CdM

victory.

The Tars have split with Mater Dei this year and have lost two of

three matches against Santa Margarita, which is seeded second.

San Marcos is the No. 3 seed in Division III.

In Division IV, Village Christian, from Sun Valley, is top-seeded,

followed by Santa Ynez, Ocean View and CdM.

CdM’s probable quarterfinal opponent (May 18) is either Bishop

Montgomery or Servite.

Newport, if it advances, would likely face Dos Pueblos in the Division

III quarterfinals.

The semifinals in both divisions are scheduled May 23 and both finals

are set for May 26 at Cypress College.