The 70-mile drive home at night turned out to be far worse than the afternoon’s ride to Granada Hills. The Sailors (30-6) won’t hit any traffic jams Saturday, when they play host to a familiar opponent in Huntington Beach.
There are very few gyms Dan Glenn hasn’t seen in Southern California during his 24 years as Newport Harbor’s coach. Granada Hills’ was a first for Glenn.
The Highlanders (23-4) aren’t usually playing volleyball during this time of year. In the dimly lit gym, they tried to put on a show for Coach Tom Harp, days after he guided the program to its first L.A. City Section Division I title.
Tuesday was Harp’s birthday after all. The Sailors ruined the party.
Newport Harbor opened the state tournament right where it left off Saturday when it claimed the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA championship.
After five ties early in the first game, outside hitter Kirby Burnham hammered away at Granada Hills. The USC-bound senior recorded six of her match-high 17 kills during Newport Harbor’s 11-5 run that put away the Highlanders in Game 1.
The big runs continued in Game 2. The Sailors jumped ahead, 20-10, on the strong serving by Maggie Magner. Unlike his Highlanders, Harp saw the Sailors jump serve, making it much more difficult on his team to set up its offense.
All Harp knew of Newport Harbor is what he jokingly said he’s seen on TV three or four times.
“For a change, we were the underdog,” Harp said moments after a Granada Hills player scooped icing from his birthday cake and rubbed it in his face.
The coach almost got tagged in the head by a ball during play as well. He knocked it away before it reached his seat.
